IPSWICH Town's Coca-Cola Championship game at Barnsley tonight could turn out to be a money spinner.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town's Coca-Cola Championship game at Barnsley tonight could turn out to be a money spinner.

The Blues pocketed around �250,000 from Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Premier League Chelsea. But this is chickenfeed to the riches three points in tonight's match at windy Oakwell might bring.

Currently priced at 12-1 to gain promotion to the Premier League this season, three points at Barnsley (kick-off 7.45pm) and then a good result in the home game against Plymouth on Saturday would lift Town up from 11th to be close to the top six.

And if they could clinch promotion through the play-offs just one season in the top flight would net Ipswich at least �50million - just what the doctor ordered to keep the club in a healthy financial position in these recession-hit times.

Recent displays have been encouraging, and if Jim Magilton can claim three consecutive away league wins tonight for the first time in his managerial career Town's odds will shorten considerably.

And with Bryan Klug set to return to overseeing the academy production line, there is renewed optimism that more youngsters will start making their way into Magilton's first team squad.

The conveyor belt has dried up in recent years, and academy manager Tony Humes has left as part of a review of the way the football side of Town's business is being run.

Humes took over from Klug when the latter moved up to become Magilton's right-hand man in the summer of 2006.

With the appointment of John Gorman as assistant manager last month, Klug's first-team coach title is now expanded to cover coaching work across the board at Portman Road.

He still works with senior players, but without attending games is able to devote more attention to the club's youngsters after his great success when academy manager.