Boss Jim Magilton has explained his decision to start pre-season training earlier than ever before. The Town squad are due back at Portman Road next Tuesday, three weeks before they began their preparations for last season.

Magilton told the club site: "It's something we are trying for the first time and we will monitor the progress of the players' fitness as we go on.

"I'm sure there will be a few moans and groans from the players, and if I'd still been a player here I probably would have been one of the ones moaning!

"But it's designed to ease the players back into training. I have often found that we try and cram a lot of work into the first week of pre-season and you end up picking up little injuries.

"So, the plan is to do three days training, four days off for the first three weeks and then take it from there.

"The lads will get a week off in July, which certainly never happened in my time as a player at any of the clubs I played at. There were times when I would have appreciated a break, so they will get that.

"The extra time also gives us more opportunities to sit down and talk to the players about last season - what was right and what was wrong - and what we want from them this coming year.

"Most importantly, we want to hit the ground running. Everything is planned towards being in the best possible condition for that first whistle."

The 2007/08 season starts on August 11th with the fixtures published on June 14th. The Carling Cup begins in the week commencing August 13th with the second round a fortnight later.

Get the fastest and most comprehensive Ipswich Town news service at ipswichtown.footballlatest.co.uk.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls