THE Roy Keane effect is set to hand Ipswich Town a �1m bonanza.

Derek Davis

THE Roy Keane effect is set to hand Ipswich Town a �1m bonanza.

Since the 37-year-old Irishman was appointed Blues manager ten days ago, season ticket sales have soared by a staggering 12 per cent.

Since the 'early bird' discount scheme was extended 1,600 extra season tickets have been sold on top of the 13,000 which were renewed first time round.

On top of that, an extra 10,000 seats will be filled at Portman Road for the end of season game against Coventry City tomorrow with a crowd of around 28,000 now expected for game that held little interest before Keane's arrival.

Replica shirt sales are expected to sell like hot cakes today when they go on general sale for the first time and the club have ordered hundreds of extra 'Ks and 'Os' for lettering to go on the backs.

Keane has been delighted with the reception he has received by everyone associated with the Blues since his appointment.

He said: “Everyone has been so helpful and welcoming to me and Tony Loughlan (his first team coach)

“I have been pleasantly surprised. My first week in the town and people could not have been nicer as I look for a house and school for my children.

“Hopefully it is the start of a good relationship. I'm under no illusion. I have only been here a week and the fans are like myself desperate to win football matches and getting into the Premiership and that is what I will be judged on.”

The former Manchester United captain and ex Sunderland manager also dismisses the image of Ipswich Town being a 'sleepy Suffolk backwater' club.

He said: “It is not fair when an area is classed as if the supporters don't love their football as much as they do in the north-east or in Manchester.

“The fans I saw in Cardiff who made the journey and ones I have met here, clearly love their football and are passionate about it. People just show it in different ways.

“There is tradition here and I want that to continue.”

The ticket office will be open today and tomorrow for 'early bird' season ticket sales.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk

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