IPSWICH Town chief executive Simon Clegg still believes the club can make the play-offs this season under a new manager.

The Suffolk club’s owner Marcus Evans yesterday came to an agreement with manager Roy Keane that his contract should be ‘amicably terminated with immediete effect’ over a phone conversation.

Ipswich are currently 18th in the Championship and just three points off the relegation zone following a disatrous run of seven defeats from nine matches.

Coach Ian McParland has been made caretaker manager for Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie at Chelsea, with the club hopeful of appointing a new boss ‘as soon as possible’ – maybe even before next Wednesday’s visit of Arsenal in the first leg of a Carling Cup semi-final.

Town are 11 points off the play-off places at present and Clegg still believes the club can challenge for promotion in the second half of the campaign.

He said: “You have to belive that anything is possible. I recognise it’s a huge task and I’m not suggesting that it’s an objective for a new manager, but certainly we need to improve our position in the table and take this club forward.

“Certainly we should be aspiring for success this season and getting into the play-offs.

“Whilst we are only three points off the relegation zone this club is looking up not down. We are looking towards the play-offs, not relegation.”