Sheepshanks bullish as youth revives Ipswich

Just as significant was the decision taken, long before Royle's arrival, to establish a youth academy, a move in keeping with the club's reputation for producing players in the 1970s such as Mills, Butcher, Osman, Wark, Talbot, Beattie, Burley and Gates.

It was with players such as these that Bobby Robson won the 1978 FA Cup and the UEFA Cup in 1981 - the last serious trophy to sit in the club's boardroom.

"The academy has been absolutely crucial," said Sheepshanks. "It was a major investment in 1998. In our mission statement we said a key objective was to have 50 per cent of the first-team squad home-grown within 10 years.

"This season is the eighth year and on a number of occasions we've had seven, eight or nine home-grown players among the 16 names on the team sheet. The next step is to achieve this target consistently.

"Winning the FA Youth Cup is a good indicator. We've now got a number of youngsters with a real potential.

"Four first-team players developed from the 2001 youth team - Bent, Westlake, Richards and Ambrose. We believe this year's youth squad could provide even more."

Sheepshanks gives the credit for this success to the academy manager, Bryan Klug, a former Ipswich midfielder whose career was ended by a broken leg.

"I know of clubs who have big, brash academy facilities," Sheepshanks said. "That guarantees nothing. Our success is due to Bryan Klug and his staff.

"At many clubs the academy is separate from the first team. We set out to engineer a seamless transition.

"The first team train on the next pitch to the academy boys. They eat in the same canteen. It forms a powerful bond."

Sheepshanks, who must be tempted to relate the triumph and despair of the Ipswich story when he delivers his motivational talks to the business world, cites the support as another key reason for the club's re-emergence.

"Our supporters have stayed with us," he said. "The average crowd this season is 25,468 compared to the 11,000 when I became chairman. We've already sold 17,100 season tickets for next season and that's before we know which league we'll be playing in.

"But we're taking nothing for granted. West Ham beat us in the play-offs last season and we face a titanic clash to get to the final."