Town chairman David Sheepshanks has moved quickly to back George Burley despite yesterday's relegation at Liverpool. Sheepshanks also tipped the club to come back as champions next season.

The chairman put an early stop to any speculation regarding Burley's position: "George is the right man to bring Ipswich back to the Premiership in 12 months.

"He's very talented and won Manager of the Year last season, and whatever lessons we have learned this season - and there have been several - they will make us and him better for it.

Sheepshanks says that blame for the Blues' drop should be accepted throughout the club: "I want to make it very clear that the responsibility for relegation is a collective one, I take as much of the blame as anyone.

"Ultimately the buck stops with me and my directors. Now the target for next season is to win the First Division. My message is that this will not spell the devastation of Ipswich Town."

"On the contrary we are stronger than we have ever been, we have the best playing squad we have ever had with a talented group of people who work for the club and make it what it is.

"We have a much improved stadium and altogether the infrastructure to support a successful Premiership club.

"Relegation will be a bitter pill and a salutary experience but we have to use that to bounce back all the stronger."

Promotion is now very much in the chairman's mind, and is something he is confident the club can acheive: "Our objective is to come back and win the First Division at the first attempt.

"I have no doubts that we will do that and we will be installed as the favourites because of the squad we have."

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