Players' Player of the Year Richard Wright says new manager Roy Keane made an immediate impact after joining the club on Thursday. The former England keeper feels that Keane's appointment will give the final two games of the season an additional edge.

Wright said: "His record as a player is there for all to see and he has a proven track record as a manager. He has a great presence and in his first day here he made an instant impact with what he said and by just being around the place.

”We were always going to be focused on the last two games of the season because we are all professionals here but with the new manager coming in, it does give it an extra edge.

”Players will be looking to impress the manager in the week or two that is left before the end of the season. Players will be playing for their futures. You don't know whether he will look to bring in new players or not, but the first thing for all of us here is to perform in the two games and aim to take six points. "

Wright says he expects former boss Jim Magilton to find himself a new club sooner rather than later: "It's never easy to see a manager leave a club, especially someone who has brought you in and showed faith in you and got behind you. Jim gave me the opportunity to play again but changes happen in football.

"Jim won't be out of football for long. He's got a massive passion for the game and he proved that in his time as a player and manager here.

"Personally I thank him because he gave me an opportunity to play here again and I wish him the very best of luck for the future. He stuck by me at the start of the season when I had a difficult stage and showed the confidence he had in me and I really appreciated that.

The ex-Arsenal, Everton and West Ham man was delighted to be named Players' Player of the Year earlier in the week: "To get the award from your fellow players is always fantastic. I really appreciated it, especially in my first season back here, and again I have to thank Jim Magilton for giving the chance to come back to this club and play regular first team football again.”

Wright says the whole footballing world is going to have a close eye on today's match: "There is going to be a massive spotlight on the Cardiff game. It's their last league match at Ninian Park and the spotlight will be on them, and also on us because of the new manager.

"It's great, as a player you would rather be involved in games like this. It's going to be big stage, a special game for the Cardiff players and for our manager, so bring it on.”

Meanwhile, this year's Sunday Times Rich List has estimated Town owner Marcus Evans's fortune at £400 million, double last year's estimated figure, making him the country's 128th wealthiest person, 269 positions up on last year.

List compiler Philip Beresford says Evans is one of only a few on the list whose prosperity is increasing during the downturn: "He employs 3,500 staff in 36 countries and is doing huge trade. He has certainly survived the recession.

"Because he has a worldwide business, he has been able to refocus on countries, areas and sectors that are growing.

"His company runs conferences and if there is a sector which is growing, organisations in that sector hold conferences - and that's where Marcus Evans comes in. He is very, very good at what he does.”

The estimate of Evans's wealth at £400 million is still well down on earlier assessments which put the Town owner's worth at in excess of a billion pounds.

Elsewhere, Town boss Roy Keane is reported to have apologised to former team-mates Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce for the comments he made on Thursday, questioning their success as managers.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls