IPSWICH Town goalkeeper Shane Supple today made his intentions plain.“I am here to stay,” said the 20-year-old with 36 first team appearances to his name, but without a senior outing so far this term.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town goalkeeper Shane Supple today made his intentions plain.

“I am here to stay,” said the 20-year-old with 36 first team appearances to his name, but without a senior outing so far this term.

“With luck I should have another 15 years in the game, and my goal is to be the Ipswich Town number one for most of that time.”

Supple was understudy to Welsh international Lewis Price for most of last season and is now playing second fiddle to Neil Alexander the 29-year-old Scottish international who was brought in on a free transfer from Cardiff in the summer.

Alexander was signed to add experience and authority to the keeper's jersey - and his arrival has done nothing to hasten Supple's return to the senior side.

But Supple is prepared to be patient although he admitted that there were times last season when life became a little difficult.

“I was not playing very much football, I was not feeling involved and it was not looking as though I was going to play,” recalled Supple, who was handed the number one jersey by manager Jim Magilton soon after the new boss took over in the summer of 2006.

“But I had no thoughts about moving away as I love it here and it is the best place for me to learn my trade.

“I want to stay here and I want to be Ipswich Town's long-term goalkeeper.”

Supple revealed that his Ipswich future was not in doubt when Richard Wright was reported to be set on making a return to Portman Road.

“The manager let me know the way he was feeling and with Lewis being three years older than me there was always the likelihood that he would be the one to move on.

“I wish him well at Derby and I sure he will do well.

“He is a great keeper and we always got on well, but perhaps things were getting a bit stale in the goalkeeping department.

“Neil has come in and has ten years experience on me. He is playing at the moment and hopefully he will continue to do well.

“But when my chance comes I want to grab it with both hands.”