Matt Holland: I told him I wanted Premiership football. Joe said he wanted that for me too

"This is the new manager, Joe Royle – and I know he wants a few words." And with that the chairman, David Sheepshanks, left the room, threw a "Good luck" over his shoulder and left Royle alone with the players.

This was Monday morning, five hours before the press conference announcing the appointment. We waited, unsure what he was going to say, how he was going to introduce himself, and wondering what ideas he had for his first minutes in the job. First impressions are vital and he was sizing us up as much as us him. He spoke for 10 minutes, nothing particularly remarkable, just introductions.

Straight away he told us that we were underachieving. He said it in a manner that brooked no argument and if any of the players doubted it, they only need look at the League table.

Encouragement followed the chastisement; we are full of potential, are a good squad of players and a good club that could be turned round. We nodded. He had our undivided attention. He continued to talk positively to us, building us up but warning of his disciplinary boundaries. Every player knows the rules under Royle and they are very much like the man – hard but fair.

The conclusion to our first meeting was him explaining why he could not turn the chance down of managing us. There had been other offers but none as compelling, as absolutely demanding of his efforts, as us.

I left the room relieved at the appointment. He seemed a straight guy: honest, passionate and committed. He had an immediate effect – the players were visibly buoyed as they filed out of the room.

Over the next few weeks he is going to sit down with every single player and discuss his game, attitude or whatever needs talking through. As captain, I had mine on Monday and it was very reassuring. He told me that he had twice tried to buy me for Manchester City and then asked me my views on why we were struggling. He wanted input, opinions and me to question myself. In fact, it was a proper two-way discussion about the club and the performances. Basically, I told him I want to play Premiership football. "Good," he replied. "I want you to as well."

My personal impressions of him are very good. He has already developed a presence that the players are responding well to. He is in charge, in control, and yet has not once impressed this upon us. It is not an oral dominance, more one of aura. Coming into a dressing room where he knows little about most of the players must have been very difficult for him.

Monday's training session was taken by Tony Mowbray, thereby allowing the players an element of continuity, and Tuesday's was taken by Mowbray and Willie Donachie. Royle was ever present, as he has promised us he always will be, but on the sidelines, watching intently yet mostly in silence. I think this is his style of management.

He trusts his assistant, Donachie, implicitly from previous partnerships and has taken to Mowbray as well. These two will do most of the hands-on work on the training pitch while Royle will oversee it all, occasionally jumping in with a thought or criticism.

So far, all the changes have been subtle, except for two. Under George Burley we had a meeting the day before a match and another in the hours before kick-off. Royle has stopped these and does his meetings on the training pitch after the session. On Wednesday, as we dripped with sweat after a run-around, he gathered everyone in a circle and read out the team for Thursday's match, the Uefa Cup tie against Slovan Liberec. We had practised set-pieces, drills and shape and now we knew the team.

Then it was off to the showers. This is his second major change. Previously we changed for training at the ground and went back there after the session. Not any more. The ground, Portman Road, is to be a special place for us, only to be visited on match days. He wants it to become a stadium full of fans, an arena with a special atmosphere when we walk out for the kick-off.

And, thankfully, the crowd gave him a good reception on Thursday evening. His last words in the dressing room had been "enjoy, no regrets and no excuses". Each of us knew his tasks – who to mark, what free-kicks and corners we were using. It was now in our hands. Our unbeaten record at home in Europe was kept thanks to a Darren Bent goal. The players were buzzing immediately after the game as Royle walked in. "Well done, lads. We deserved a bit of luck, did a lot of things well but there is still plenty that needs work." He was right. "And tomorrow is a day off because of the game on Sunday, enjoy it."

The first week with Royle brought a win, a day off and enjoyment. Like all competitive people we enjoy winning more than anything.

All footballers have been reminded this week of the threat of using banned substances, but it can sometimes be difficult. I had the flu last season and was warned by our physio against all off-the-shelf remedies. "Stick to paracetamol, Matt," he urged. "I haven't a clue what's in Lemsip."

Matt Holland, the Ipswich Town captain, was talking to Iain Fletcher