Town chief executive Simon Clegg says he hopes that Portman Road could be included on the list of stadia for potential use if England's bid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup is successful.

Suffolk is hardly a rugby heartland but Clegg says he is keen to bring the oval ball sport to town: "We don't have big rugby teams in this part of the country, although there is a big rugby interest in the area.

"I hope I can engage with [RFU chief executive] Francis Baron and other people to encourage them to look at Ipswich Town.”

Portman Road, which is not in the plans for the 2012 Olympics or the 2018 World Cup bid, has hosted sports other than football before with a hockey international between Great Britain and West Germany having been played in the summer of 1968.

Clegg has also outlined his five priorities in the job he started a month ago: reaching the Premier League as soon as possible, utilising owner Marcus Evans's wealth but remaining financially astute, continuing the links between the club and community, building the Town brand and getting the most from the academy.

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