Royle ready to tackle angry Ipswich fans

Joe Royle has offered to meet any Ipswich Town fans upset by his appointment as manager of the club, after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract yesterday.

The 53-year-old former Oldham, Everton and Manchester City manager agreed to face his critics in a local radio phone-in after protesters demonstrated against his appointment during and after the 1-0 defeat to Gillingham on Saturday. He even extended an offer of a face-to-face meeting with his detractors.

Royle has been charged with bringing Premiership football back to Portman Road after the club's relegation last season under George Burley. But supporters are angry at their club's decision to go for a man who ended his playing career as a striker with the local rivals Norwich City.

Royle said: "I don't know what I've done to upset them. The Norwich connection is the only reason I can think of but I'm happy to speak to them. I just hope they will give me a chance. I think the squad here is good enough to reach the play-offs and I don't think there is any problem in the dressing room. Confidence is just a bit low."

Ipswich ended Burley's seven-year tenure after a poor run of form which now leaves them four points from the relegation zone in the First Division. Royle has taken both Oldham and Manchester City into the top flight in the past, but he has been out of the game for 17 months since his dismissal by Manchester City.

David Sheepshanks, the Ipswich chairman, explained the delay between Burley's sacking and Royle's appointment by revealing that the club wanted to give the caretaker-manager Tony Mowbray a chance to impress.

Mowbray was one of three candidates interviewed for the job, but his record of two defeats in four games in charge did him no favours. He will nevertheless stay on as first-team coach at Royle's request, while the Sheffield Wednesday coach Willie Donachie is in the running for the assistant manager's role.