Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks is today expected to confirm he will stand for the Football Association chairmanship.

If he is successful it is believed he will remain chairman at Portman Road but a chief executive will be appointed to run Town affairs while Sheepshanks is on FA business.

It is unlikely the FA would allow him to take the post part-time, especially after insisting Kevin Keegan take his job full-time.

Sheepshanks is already vice-chairman of the Nationwide Football league and vice-president at the FA.

The post became vacant after the resignation of Keith Wiseman. FA chiefs are due to vote in June for the new full time chairman.

Sheepshanks' move comes as Ipswich prepare for the Nationwide Division One play offs.

Ipswich have been allocated 2,900 tickets for the first game at Bolton on Sunday, which will be screened live on Sky Sports 2, with a 1pm kick off, which negates plans to show the game on a big screen at Portman Road.

Town's second leg will be at Portman Road on the Wednesday while, due to television demands, Watford and Birmingham will play on the Thursday.

If Ipswich are successful they are expected to take more than 30,000 fans to Wembley for the final on Monday, May 31.

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