Ipswich Town affirm promotion ambition

Ipswich co-managing director Jonathan Symonds says promotion to the Premier League is a priority for the club.

The Portman Road side, sixth in the Championship, are in their best position to return to the top flight for six years.

"It's not imperative but it costs a lot of money to play in the Championship," Milne told BBC Look East.

"The Premier League is a golden egg. It's something we're chasing and the sooner we can get there the better."

Town have barely come close to promotion since they were taken over by businessman Marcus Evans in 2007.

They have yet to finish in the play-offs during his ownership, with their eighth-place finish of the 2007-08 campaign the best of his reign.

In fact the past four seasons have been more focused on avoiding relegation, but boss Mick McCarthy, appointed last season, has turned Town into play-off contenders and rekindled hope among supporters of returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2002.

"It's been a long time since the club has been to those heady heights," said Ian Milne, co-managing director with Symonds.

"But it wouldn't only be fantastic for the club and staff, it would give the town a huge boost from a moral and commercial point of view."

Milne, appointed by Evans alongside Symonds in February 2013, has said he has not been surprised by the positive impact of former Wolves boss McCarthy.

"When he came in he inspired the players and brought confidence to the squad - and indeed the whole club because he takes an interest in what happens commercially," he said.

"He's brought a camaraderie and a discipline. So we're not surprised he's worked so well. The players love playing for him."