FORMER Ipswich Town midfielder Ian Westlake is enjoying life playing under his former boss Joe Royle again.

Elvin King

FORMER Ipswich Town midfielder Ian Westlake is enjoying life playing under his former boss Joe Royle again.

Westlake, who left within two months of Jim Magilton replacing Royle in charge at Portman Road, says that it is great to be with a manager who's 'not interested in politics or personalities.'

And he has revealed that he fancies coming back to East Anglia to play one day.

The Clacton-born 25-year-old joined the Blues from school and made 125 appearances before moving to Leeds in the summer of 2006 in a swap deal that also involved Dan Harding.

He has been with Cheltenham this term, but last month joined Oldham on loan to the end of the season days after Royle took charge of the Boundary Park-based club.

Westlake is looking towards a League One play-off place, and said: “I'm not thinking beyond the end of this season.

“I don't know what the future holds. All I know is that I'd love to get back into the Coca-Cola Championship and, one day, my dream is to move back to a club in East Anglia.”

Oldham are eighth, five points off the top six, and Westlake added: “All I'm thinking about are the play-offs.

“I'm happy and, ideally, I'll get a run of games under my belt and help the side finish in the top six.

“Hopefully it'll be a case of third time lucky as I've had two near-misses in the play-offs before, losing twice against West Ham when I was at Ipswich under Joe.

“It's great to be back with him because he gave me my chance in football, and we know each other well. I jumped at the opportunity.

“He's the kind of manager I love working for because you always know where you stand with him. He's not interested in politics or personalities within a club - all he cares about is players giving their all and performing well.

“That's great and, from my point of view, I couldn't ask for more.”

Westlake joined Cheltenham in January, following a loan spell, but was allowed to leave because of financial restraints at Whaddon Road.