IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton today insisted that standards are being raised at Portman Road.“The bar is being raised,” said the Blues boss.“If there are players who come through from our academy in similar fashion to the likes of Kieron Dyer and Richard Wright then they will be destined to go straight into the first team.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Jim Magilton today insisted that standards are being raised at Portman Road.

“The bar is being raised,” said the Blues boss.

“If there are players who come through from our academy in similar fashion to the likes of Kieron Dyer and Richard Wright then they will be destined to go straight into the first team.

“But we are now in a situation where I want the youngsters to tick all the boxes before being considered for a first team place.

“In an ideal world they will progress through the youth teams to the reserves, but the lack of strength in our reserve fixtures now hampers this to an extent.

“A gradual process is good for the kids, but they must now reach higher standards to make the grade.”

And refereeing to contact talks that will be taking place soon over extensions of contracts for more senior players like skipper Jason De Vos, Magilton said: “Obviously it will depend on which league will be in.

“If it is the Championship again in 2008/09 then we will want to hit the ground running.

“If it is the Premier League - and this is what we are aiming for - then we will be looking to bring in quality additions to cope with the advanced level. The bar will be raised.”

Magilton said that it was the hardest job he has had to do since he took over as Town manager to tell young players they will not be kept on at Portman Road.

He had to do that this week to Michael Synnott, Ollie Fenn and Andrew Plummer.

“We wish them well and will be doing all we can to help them,” said Magilton. “Hopefully they can progress at other clubs and make a career in the game.”

Irish Under-21 international Synnott is planning to stay in England, while Fenn has joined Galway on trial, keeper Plummer is expected to go to Oxford for a trial.