Royle is not retiring

Joe Royle always imagined retiring at 55, but the Ipswich boss now admits it is the last thing on his mind as the new season approaches.

Royle’s contract at Portman Road is due to expire next summer, by which time he will be 56, but he has confirmed he has no intention of calling it a day.

He said: “There is plenty more to be done with Ipswich and I have not drawn any lines when I would like to hand over to someone else.

“My contract ends in June, but that is not a reason to think that my job here will end then.

“I am not going down the road of saying this will be my last job in football. There is no timescale on either my management career or my time with Ipswich.”

Royle took charge in October 2002 and last season, his first full campaign at the helm, saw him lead the Tractor Boys into the play-offs.