Ipswich boss Magiltion happy to follow the lead of Sir Bobby

Small wonder that on the frequent occasions that the Ipswich bosses past and present chat with each other there are few awkward silences.

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"You should hear us, there are times when we are both trying to get a word in edgeways because we've got so much to talk about," says Magilton.

"But it's a pleasure to speak with him, he's a great man."

Of course, most comparisons between the club's president and 37-year-old manager are hopelessly premature but, in his second year managing Ipswich, Magilton is doing fine.

His team are fifth in the Championship as they prepare to meet Barnsley today.

Overall, going back to last season, they have won 12 straight home games and are closing in on Robson's record of 15, set in 1981.

About the only question to which Magilton struggles to find an answer involves his side's travel sickness.

They have not won away this campaign and are shipping goals.

"We've analysed a lot why we seem to be two different teams, but I am convinced it has nothing to do with the way we are preparing," he says.

"I think we've been a bit unfortunate with refereeing decisions, but mostly it is probably a confidence thing and I'm hoping one win will put it right."

At least the team's coach driver can sleep easily as Magilton will not be going down the route that Gordon Strachan took at Coventry when he found a change of the man at the wheel brought with it a change of fortune.

"I'm not into that kind of thing," he says.

Magilton will tackle the issue with the same commitment he showed as a combative midfielder at Liverpool, Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Ipswich, who took a leap of faith in promoting him to manager after he retired as a player last year.

A reminder is the picture on his office wall which shows him half-throttling Germany's Andi Moller during one of his 52 appearances for Northern Ireland.

Everything in his career has been informed by his upbringing in a close-knit family in west Belfast and his football education at Liverpool in the late Eighties.

"I went to a Christian Brothers School where there was no soccer, so I did a lot of Gaelic football there and played soccer in my own time," he recalls.

"When Liverpool came calling I was 16 and had never been away before.

"After some phone calls home I was tempted to take the first boat back, but I stayed and it was a fantastic time to be there and to learn."

One of the skills he has picked up is the knack of spotting a hidden gem, such as his highly-rated charges Gary Roberts and Jon Walters, who he picked up from Accrington and Chester respectively.

He watched Roberts with scout Charlie Woods for just 10 minutes at Bury before leaving, having decided to sign him.

He liked Walters "because I could just smell his hunger to be a top footballer. I had a bit of that."

With reclusive businessman Marcus Evans set to complete a takeover at Ipswich, clear their £30million debt and provide £12m for signings, Magilton may no longer have to sift through the bargain basement rack come January.

However, having lived through the period six years ago as a player when Ipswich last splashed the cash — unsuccessfully — after finishing fifth in the Premiership, he will not be deflected from his view that good character and attitude are non-negotiable in a player.

Magilton welcomes the imminent injection of money but promises it will not alter the tradition and certain style of Ipswich that he holds dear.

He has, though, made considerable changes.

He tried a footballing Feng Shui by altering the lay-out of the dressing room area with home and away swapped round; pre-season training started a fortnight earlier, but the players were given a week off with their families before the serious business got under way; double training sessions have been introduced.

Magilton talks of these innovations but noticeably inserts references to how much he owes the predecessors he played under — Joe Royle and George Burley.

"I so wanted to get promotion for them," he says.

Showing respect is the Ipswich way, and long may it continue.