Roy Keane appears at his first news conference as Ipswich boss
New Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane believes they can gain promotion from the Championship to the Premier League next season.
The ex-Sunderland boss has signed a two-year contract at Portman Road.
"Three or four weeks ago I thought, if the opportunity came up, I was ready for it," Keane told a news conference.
"I would like to try and do it (win promotion) in one year, if I was not up for it I would be walking my dogs. I think my dogs needed a break."
Keane, who had been out of work for five months, had been earmarked by ambitious Ipswich owner Marcus Evans as the ideal successor for ex-manager Jim Magilton.
The former boss was sacked on Wednesday after Ipswich failed to return to the top flight for the seventh year in a row.
Keane, 37, revealed he had received other offers, but was enticed by the ambition of the Suffolk club.
I'm convinced the players will enjoy working with me
Ipswich manager Roy Keane
Asked why he had accepted the job, Keane said: "My gut feeling, the ambition of the club, the history of the club.
"It's a proper football club. I think I've been very lucky with the clubs I've been involved with and I'm very lucky to get this job.
"It's a massive challenge trying to get the club back in the Premier League.
"I enjoy working with ambitious people. There's enough people out there with no ambitions who are happy to go through the motions in life."
Keane took over as Sunderland boss in August 2006 with the club languishing second from bottom in the Championship.
Keane gets first glimpse of squad
He made an immediate impact, guiding them to the Championship title that season as well as securing a place in the Premier League.
"We had a very good spirit and never-say-die attitude," the former Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Celtic midfielder said of his time at the Stadium of Light.
"We scored a lot of late goals and had great desire. I always felt we would go to the end and I want that from Ipswich players.
"That's up to me to get into the players. I'm convinced the players will enjoy working with me."
Entrepreneur Evans has spent £12m on strengthening Ipswich's squad since taking over the club at the end of 2007.
"It's an exciting and dynamic new era. It further demonstrates the aspirations and ambitions of this club and its owner, Marcus Evans," said chief executive Simon Clegg.
"I'm convinced, with Roy Keane as manager, we can build on the club's rich heritage and he will lead us back to Premier League football."
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