IPSWICH Town manager Paul Jewell has congratulated Norwich City on their promotion to the Premier League.

While fans of the Tractor Boys have found the success of the Canaries under the management of Paul Lambert hard to take, Jewell is more circumspect about the success of his team’s Norfolk neighbours.

“We have to be men about it and say well done to Norwich,” said Jewell.

“Let’s be honest about it, Norwich have been terrific this season and you have to be magnanimous and give them great credit for what they’ve achieved.

“The manager has been great and the players have also done great.

“When I went to see them play Bristol City, I just got the feeling that they had got in going there.

“The atmosphere at Carrow Road was terrific.

“Now we want to try and do that next season. There are no guarantees but hopefully we can.

“Our supporters are finding it hard to take, but the most important thing for us is Ipswich Town, not Norwich City.”

Jewell is anticipating the Championship being a tough division to get out of next season - tougher than the current campaign.

“I wouldn’t like to predict who will be coming down from the Premier League, but whoever it is they are likely to be fighting to go straight back while coming up we will have Brighton with a new stadium, a big club in Southampton and possibly a free-scoring Huddersfield.

“There will be about 14 of us trying to get into that top six, and we need to be stronger to give us a chance of getting being there.”

With David Norris on his way the future of other out-of-contract players is set to be resolved at the start of next week.

Jewell spoke to keeper Brian Murphy and midfielder Colin Healy on Thursday and he added: “The ball is in the players’ courts, and whatever decisions they make I will fully respect.

“They have been terrific professionals since I’ve been here, and it’s been a pleasure to work with them.”