Magilton is in his third season as Ipswich manager

Ipswich Town owner Marcus Evans has given his backing to under-fire manager Jim Magilton.

Magilton's position has come under growing pressure from fans unhappy at the club's failure to mount a sustained promotion challenge.

But Evans told the club website: "I believe that this team can do it and Jim can take us to the Premier League.

"But it's not ours by right and we will have to continue to strive to be at our best to be promoted."

He added: "I am here for the long-term, so let's not pre-judge the situation and see where we are at the end of the season."

Ipswich are currently 11th in the Championship, seven points off the play-off positions with 14 games to play.

And with 42 points still available, Evans is refusing to give up on a top-six finish and believes the time is not right for a change in management.

606: DEBATE Many football fans are becoming like spoilt children - demanding instant success and using the manager as a punch bag as soon as their demands are not met FlyingJessesGiants

"All of us at Ipswich Town are disappointed with where we are today, however it's far from being a case of all doom and gloom.

"We have lost only one in the last seven games. We have lost the away hoodoo and currently have the fourth best away record in the Championship.

"There is still a third of the season to go. We still have 42 points to play for.

"So, do we change our entire management plan and strategy of improving coaching throughout the club (which is a strategy driven from the top by the manager) based on three or four chances not going our way this season?

"I don't believe so. The challenge if getting back into the world's greatest league is never going to be easy and there are many clubs as ambitious as us and as well resourced as us."

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