WITH businessman Marcus Evans set to complete his takeover of Ipswich Town tomorrow, Blues manager Jim Magilton will have money to spend when the transfer window opens in January.

WITH businessman Marcus Evans set to complete his takeover of Ipswich Town tomorrow, Blues manager Jim Magilton will have money to spend when the transfer window opens in January.

With the Blues boss having the backing to increase the strength of his squad, the current crop of players will be playing for their futures between now and the end of next month.

If Magilton does not like what he sees - or feels he needs to strengthen any particular position - he now has the wherewithal to delve into the transfer market.

And he will be expected to do so, with the new owner no doubt looking on his investment as a business venture and scheduling a place in the Premier League by 2009 at the latest.

Mr Evans' buying of the club will see him take care of the reported £32million debt, and put £12million into the club when his purchase is rubber-stamped at an emergency general meeting of shareholders that is expected to take place within the next fortnight.

From a supporter's point of view, Ipswich Town will have gone from an also ran in financial terms in the Championship to one that can compete on an even footing with those in receipt of parachute Premier League money.

This has to be good news for them as after much hard work behind the scenes the club will have made a complete financial turnaround after going into Administration in 2003.

Over the next few months a head or two might roll within the corridors of power at Portman Road, but it will be on the football side where the added pressure will be mainly felt.

Magilton will revel in the new challenge, but he is well aware that a manager's job is based solely on results - and the ante will now be raised.

The manager has assembled a squad good enough to reign supreme at home, but it will have to raise its game considerably in away matches if Ipswich are to maintain a serious promotion push this season.

So signings can be expected in January - not from the Harrods end of the market perhaps, but still some way up from the corner shop where Magilton has often been dealing in since his appointment as manager.

A number of current Ipswich players could find themselves in the cold if they don't come up trumps over the eight games during December.