WITH takeover talks underway at Portman Road, Blues boss Jim Magilton talks exclusively to Derek Davis about his job prospects, the national coach's position at the Republic and Northern Ireland, the Norwich City vacancy and the amazing managerial merry-go-round.

WITH takeover talks underway at Portman Road, Blues boss Jim Magilton talks exclusively to Derek Davis about his job prospects, the national coach's position at the Republic and Northern Ireland, the Norwich City vacancy and the amazing managerial merry-go-round.

THE one thing that is virtually a certainty in football management is that some day you will be sacked.

Some veteran managers even joke that you are not a fully paid-up member of the fraternity until you have been shown the door by your chairman at least once.

After 18-months in the job at Ipswich Town, Jim Magilton is already one of the longest-serving of current league managers and so is philosophical about his future.

Magilton accepts the current takeover talks going on at Portman Road could signal his exit when the new owners are installed, but until then he intends to just keep his nose to the grind.

Magilton said: “If it got to the point that the takeover was going to happen and the person taking over decided for change then I would accept that. That is part and parcel of football.

“If he comes in and puts money in and feels he want to go for someone else in charge then I go, it is as simple as that but I'm very relaxed about that because I know how the game works.

“I will take it in my stride but, that said, I don't want to leave the job. I feel I can do the job and fulfil the potential of the football club.

“Alternatively if someone comes in and wants me to stay and gives me money to improve the squad then I will spend it for him.”

The EADT recently revealed that fresh takeover talks are in progress at Portman Road, confirmed by the chairman David Sheepshanks.

The club are naturally keeping tight-lipped about the potential new owners with the risk of something going wrong, highlighted at clubs like Coventry City and Southampton.

Town were also in talks with potential new owners earlier this year but they pulled out. Among the interested parties linked was capital-investment group SISU, which has this week been named as the people interested in buying Southampton.

Undoubtedly, they will have been approached on Town's behalf by Riverhill Partners, which have been asked to find potential buyers and brought the latest interested group to the table.

Town have been chasing new owners for some time now and Birmingham's David Gold and David Sullivan continue to be linked as being interested once they have sold their interests in the St Andrews club, with the chairman telling the EADT he would not rule it out.

There have also been persistent rumours ever since the club went into administration that Suffolk businessmen want to buy the club but they have never come forward, and the club has for years constantly said they would welcome an approach but none has been made.

As manager, Magilton is regularly briefed about what is going on but admits even that it is on a need-to-know basis and prefers to concentrate on the day-to-day running of the football side of things.

He said: “I get the information that I need to know and when, or, if the takeover happens, then I will be in the loop, but until then I have enough to worry about.

“At the moment I have enough on my plate worrying about performances and getting people ready for Saturday.

“In one respect the chairman is trying to protect me from all the bits and pieces that are going on and no doubt the chairman will let me know when he feels it is the right time to let me know.

“Unit that happens I go about my job on a daily basis and it doesn't affect how I go about my job. Nor does it affect the coaches or the players.”

The Blues are chasing a run of ten successive home wins today, which will be the first time that has happened in 26 years. A win over Wolves could also push tem into a top six place, but Magilton knows even that does not guarantee his position.

Magilton said: “It still won't take away from the fact that if a new owner comes in and is ploughing untold amount of money into the club and he has an idea of who he wants to run the football club and I don't fit that profile then I will be gone. I'm comfortable with that and if it does come I will accept that.

“On the other hand, if he comes in and says I'm the man to run the club and gives me a few quid to spend, then I will spend it.”

And if Magilton doesn't get to spend it at Portman Road he is bound to be in demand elsewhere as a full-paid up member of the 'I've been binned at least once' managers' association.