 When Royle became Ipswich manager , the club was struggling near the Division One relegation zone , but the change in management sparked a revival and Ipswich narrowly failed to reach the 2002 – 03 play @-@ offs . The club came out of administration during the 2003 – 04 season , and continued to challenge for promotion back to the Premier League . Ipswich finished that season in fifth place , but were beaten in the play @-@ off semi finals by West Ham United 2 – 1 on aggregate . Ipswich missed automatic promotion in the 2004 – 05 season , finishing third , only two points behind second @-@ placed Wigan Athletic . Again , they lost to West Ham United in the play off semi @-@ finals , this time by a 4 – 2 aggregate score . Although they had been pre @-@ season promotion favourites for the 2005 – 06 season , Ipswich finished 15th , the club 's lowest finish since 1966 , and Joe Royle resigned on 11 May 2006 . 
