Town chairman David Sheepshanks has paid tribute to Joe Royle following David Unsworth's decision to drop down from the Premiership to help Blues' promotion bid.

The England international has joined Town on loan from Portsmouth until the end of the season.

The move reunites the 31-year-old defender with Joe, whose management he played under for three years at Everton.

The switch to Town is the first time David has been out of the Premiership in his career, a point not lost on the Chairman.

David - on loan at Town until end of season

"I'm very pleased that we have been able to support Joe and bring David on loan to Portman Road," he says.

"It's a measure of Joe's statue in the game that he is able to attract a player of David's standing from the Premiership to strengthen our push for promotion.