Town chairman David Sheepshanks has praised manager Joe Royle for his efforts since joining the club in November 2002. Royle's contract with the Blues is up in June but both chairman and manager seem keen for him to remain at Portman Road.

Sheepshanks says he has a close relationship with Royle and has been pleased with the job he has done: "We have not reviewed Joe's contract as yet and all I can say is that he is doing an excellent job.

"I speak for all of the board when I talk about my admiration for the work he is doing. Of course, we all want to be promoted but, short of that, he has done exactly what he was asked to do.

"That was to stabilise the ship in the face of the horrors of relegation and, furthermore, maintain us as contenders."

Yesterday Royle himself said he is not about to make decisions on when he ends his managerial career.

Chairman Sheepshanks is one of a number of names linked with the job of chief executive of the FA in the wake of Mark Palios's resignation.

The Town chairman, who will sit on the 13-man FA board charged with deciding on Sven Goran-Eriksson's future on Thursday, says he will not comment on the situation until after the meeting.

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