IT may be a year later than originally planned but David Sheepshanks is ready to relinquish the day-to-day running of Ipswich Town and leave it in the very capable hands of team manager Joe Royle and chief executive Derek Bowden, writes Derek Davis.

IT may be a year later than originally planned but David Sheepshanks is ready to relinquish the day-to-day running of Ipswich Town and leave it in the very capable hands of team manager Joe Royle and chief executive Derek Bowden, writes Derek Davis.

He explained: "For the past 12 months Derek and I have been engaged in a rearguard action to, first of all, try and avoid administration and then to minimise the damage.

"Administration has taken a heavy toll on those who have suffered in the community and the staff here who have tried to manage it.

"We are through the other side now and Derek Bowden will be able to lead this club into a new era.

"He is a professional business manager of a very high standard and he has been brought to this club to take it on to the next stage in terms of business performance.

"On the field we have Joe Royle, who is a highly experienced and able manager.

"This club is now served with two of the best managers for both our on and off field business that we could hope to have and so we will lead into the new era.

"I will still be here and I see it as my job to see the club through its recovery and back into the Premiership but it will be Derek and Joe's job to deliver that."

The pair will be able to call on Sheepshanks' experience and support to help, guide, and prompt them.

He added: "They will be backed up by a strong board which will see changes. There will be in due course additions to the board and that will, hopefully, be well received.

"I will stay on as chairman as long as I have the support of my colleagues and the majority of public support and a lot of people who have backed this club have asked me to do that.

"By having those two exceptionally gifted managers I will have more time to devote to the actual role as chairman and to do other things that I want to do with my life without being totally immersed in the day-to-day business of the club."

Sheepshanks aims to work two-and-a-half days a week and will be paid accordingly, though he will still oversee all player deals along with Royle with Bowden kept informed at all times.