MALCOLM Webster today revealed he would be 'very interested' in returning to Ipswich Town as goalkeeping coach.

Elvin King

MALCOLM Webster today revealed he would be 'very interested' in returning to Ipswich Town as goalkeeping coach.

And Webster insisted Blues' manager Jim Magilton would be on a winner if he took 30-year-old goalkeeper Richard Wright back to Portman Road.

Wright played his best football under Webster and there is a mutual appreciation between the two that could work to Town's benefit again.

Magilton has narrowed his shortlist down to two or three and expects to name a replacement for departed goalkeeping coach Andy Rhodes this week.

Webster confirmed that he has heard nothing from the Blues, but a move back to Suffolk would be something he would show a big interest in.

“I would be very interested,” said Webster, 57, who returned to work at Southampton last Thursday. “I have had a chat with Saints chairman Rupert Lowe and he knows the score.

“He is aware that if an offer did come from Ipswich it would be something I would like to consider. If it did come we would have to see how things progressed.”

Webster, who was the keeping coach at Town under the management of George Burley when Magilton was in the first team, lives in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

It would make it easier than commuting to Hampshire to the Saints training ground, but that is not the only reason that Webster would seriously consider a move.

He would love the opportunity to continue working with Wright, who is believed to be keen to join the Blues from West Ham.

And Webster feels that Wright could win his England place back again with Ipswich.

“Town supporters will know how good Richard was eight and nine years ago,” said Webster.

“He worked with me while on loan at Southampton for the last two months of last season - and he was back to his very best.

“He is fully focussed and fully relaxed and 30 is a great age for a keeper.

“There is still plenty to come and by doing well for Ipswich I can see Richard getting himself back in contention for an international return. I would back him to do it.

“I knew - I think we both knew - that once Richard started playing at Southampton he would get the desire to become a first choice keeper again.

“Ipswich would see the best of Richard again and I know a big part of him was disappointed he did not end up at Portman Road last summer.”

Webster is running his annual goalkeeping course at a university near Crewe this week and he has more than 50 keepers on the course.

It remains to be seen whether he returns to St Mary's Stadium or Portman Road to work after that.

His eventual destination might well affect whether home-grown Wright returns to Ipswich, a town where he is now back based with his family.