It won’t take millions to get Town promoted

IPSWICH TOWN: Blues’ defensive stalwart Gareth McAuley says that it will not cost millions to get the club promoted to the Premier League.

Town play their penultimate match of the Championship campaign at champions Newcastle United tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) with the Toon Army going to be in heaven with the league trophy being presented on the St James Park pitch.

Ipswich will be striving to gain enough points against Newcastle and at home to Sheffield United on Sunday week to edge up at least one place that will see them finish the campaign in the top half of the table.

“Newcastle have proved themselves to be the best side and along with West Brom and Nottingham Forest are one of the best three sides in the division,” said central defender McAuley.

“But after them it is a very open division.

“We have missed out after a poor start although from December onwards we have shown the form that would see us competing for a play-off place if we had managed it from the start.

“It will be tougher to get out of the Championship when Premier League parachute payments are extended from two to four years.

“But it’s a challenge that we should all relish and you don’t need world-class players to gain promotion.

“You haven’t got to spend millions.

“Clubs like Swansea got some momentum going and if you can win four or five games on the trot and build a solid base as long as you have something a little different to break teams down you can go places at this level.”

McAuley was named the boxholders’ and sponsors’ player of the season and he said that it is an award he is proud to have won.

“We had a great evening with unsung fans who support the club, many financially, but I’d swap the award for 20 points and a shot at the play-offs,” added McAuley.

“I’m fed up waiting for the table to turn over on Sky Sports News to show us in the bottom half. I want us to be evident at the initial showing of the table by the time the last ball has been kicked.

“We lost 4-0 to Newcastle at home in September, and we have moved forward since then having stuck together in the dressing room and ground out some results.”

McAuley says that Town have nothing to lose at a packed St James Park. “It will be the type of game that we all want to play in,” he added.

“We’ve nothing to lose and I’m sure we can handle the intimidating atmosphere.

“We’ve been working on a plan all week and must stick to it and handle what comes at us.

“If any of our youngsters make their debuts – being in front of 50,000 fans will make it something they will remember for a long while.”

N (SQUARE) TOWN’S plans to reveal current season ticket figures for next season yesterday have been delayed and are now expected tomorrow.