Former Blues skipper Matt Holland could be part of the new Town management set-up. The 38-year-old watched yesterday’s 3-0 home defeat from the directors’ box and was remaining tight-lipped regarding the Blues’ managerial situation.

Holland is unlikely to be in line for the top job but is understood to be close to Alan Curbishley and was his captain during his time at the Valley and also worked with Mick McCarthy while playing with the Republic of Ireland. A position on the new backroom staff would be a hugely popular move with supporters.

The one-time midfielder, who is the patron of the ITFC Charitable Trust, turned down a request for an interview on Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch and was similarly unwilling to comment on the situation when questioned at the game.

The ex-Bournemouth man started his career under Town owner Marcus Evans's close friend and advisor Harry Redknapp at West Ham. Redknapp's long-term assistant Kevin Bond, like his former boss a one-time manager of the Cherries, was also in the Portman Road directors' box yesterday.

This morning's papers have little new on the Town management situation, aside from last night's link with Ian Holloway, with the process of finding Paul Jewell's successor still ongoing.

You can hear yesterday’s Life’s a Pitch, which includes interviews with former Blues James Scowcroft (1hr 10min 38secs) and Hermann Hreidarsson (1hr 24mins 00secs), as well as ex-Radio Orwell sports editor Peter Slater (6mins 00secs, 39mins 09secs), who is now with Five Live, here.

Photo: Action Images

JoHnNnY added 10:33 - Oct 28 I want Holloway now, Mcarthy/Holland would be an acceptable 2nd choice... Not sure about Curbs, been out of the game too long.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 10:38 - Oct 28 Would be good to have Matty back in some capacity as an assistant maybe. That would suggest Curbishley or McCarthy will take over the hotseat. Whoever it may be needs to stand up to the owner & CEO regarding ALL football matters & not just be a yes man.
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BrettenhamBlue added 10:39 - Oct 28 Maybe a new number 2?
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mickeyjb added 10:40 - Oct 28 Cubishley/Holland McCarthy/Holland Would Holloway like to work with Holland?
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Stato added 10:40 - Oct 28 I view Matt Hollands potential involvement as being really good news. Always gave 100% and hopefully will demand the same from the players. Played attacking football and knows there are gems to be found in the lower leagues. Should bring a lot to the table.
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Arthur added 10:42 - Oct 28 Surely wouldn't the new manager want to choose his own assistant manager. I would love to see him involved somewhere ... as new CEO perhaps?
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dagenhamtown added 10:42 - Oct 28 burley Holland?
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Stunnicliffe added 10:42 - Oct 28 Curbishley, Holland & Mervyn Day makes perfect sense to me. How many clubs has McCarthy saved from relegation? How many has he established in the Premiership? I rest my case......
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Morgan added 10:42 - Oct 28 I would love for him to be involved in the club in any capacity.
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Ryorry added 10:43 - Oct 28 That's all very well - but Matt's never been involved in the management side of things before even as a backroom member of staff, so is completely inexperienced - is that what we really need at the mo? Does he have coaching badges? Unless it were in some kind of advisory or intermediary role (eg helping in negotiations with new signings or current contracts; acting as a link between ME/SC and the fans or some such - then I just can't see it.

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London_Blue added 10:44 - Oct 28 Call me ambitious, but I can see Harry Redknapp and Matty Holland as the management team, going forward..... Watch this space!
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cookiemk6 added 10:48 - Oct 28 I was told to put money on curbs/Holland from somebody at the club
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ipswichm8 added 10:48 - Oct 28 assitant manager maybee
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billlm added 10:55 - Oct 28 no to this idea, isnt the time after yesterdays trash someone tough and experienced needed now
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TractorRoyNo1 added 11:03 - Oct 28 No 2 to burley and start today please
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TheHighwayman added 11:03 - Oct 28 Never keen on him. Overrated, average player. Hacked me off with his happy-clappy routine after each game. Should have accepted transfer to AV to help club. Too wet. As Reuser showed.
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Mark added 11:14 - Oct 28 It would be great to have Holland back at part of the management structure, as he clearly cares about the club. I can only see it happening if Burley or Curbishley become manager though. That would well happen as I see that Burley is now the second favourite and Curbishley the third favourite at the bookies. The latest prices are: McCarthy 1.62 Burley 5 Curbishley 7 Tisdale 7 Coyle 15 Shearer 17 Butcher 17 Yallop 21 Butcher 21 Megson 21 34 bar

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AbujaBlue added 11:15 - Oct 28 Luckily you're in the minority highway. I think he would be great as an assistant manager, but it would only work with Curbishley and maybe McCarthy. If we had any chance of Holloway coming here then he would have to choose his own assistant manager.
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runningout added 11:19 - Oct 28 our club cannot recover from the deeper issues that are still floating around PR.. we are going down whoever gets the team managers job...
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mannos6 added 11:23 - Oct 28 Can't get my head round some fans bringing up potential manages record in the premiership and getting relegated. Frankly who cares about the premiership. We are miles off there were close to being stuck in a RELEGATION dog fight this season not from the premiership but to LEAGUE ONE! We should be looking for a manger with a good record in this league not worrying about them being sh!te managers in the premiership or only managing to scrap the playoffs (any town fan would take that ATM)

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Stunnicliffe added 11:31 - Oct 28 If Holland was average, what does that make the current bunch? There seems to a has left many clubs in a clamour for someone considered as "tough", but it didn't exactly work with Keane did it? What's required is a good, firm, man-manager, and yet again Curbishley fits the bill. The "Harry" link continues to worry me - he might turn things around on the pitch and even get the club into mid-Premiership, but he always wants more, pushes his Board to overspend, and leaves most of the clubs he has managed in a parlous financial state (Spurs probably got rid of him just in time). I don't want ITFC to become another Portsmouth.

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Stunnicliffe added 11:43 - Oct 28 mannos6 - fully agree that the priority has to be someone who is capable of producing the goods in this division (and maybe the one below) and its a hell of a long time since Curbishley was a Championship manager, but he didn't exactly make a bad job of it when he last operated in this division. McCarthy took quite a while to get Wolves upwardly mobile - if not Curbishley then I would much prefer Billy Davies

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Marcus added 11:43 - Oct 28 Yes, we're staring down the barrel but it doesn't mean we should lose hope. Many teams have been bottom at this point and survived. The new manager MUST have a transfer window war chest as well as being able to get some points from the current set of players. I believe Curbs and McCarthy are the only two candidates and Holland is part of Curbs application. If I was a gambling man I'd go for Curbs-Holland. My heart likes that buy my head says McCarthy and whomever he feels is his best assistant would be better in the short term. Don't stop believing.

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debenturedave added 11:47 - Oct 28 HOLLOWAY would be a great choice if we could get him. Anyone who wouldn't want had better join Jewell ! Holland would make a great Assistant manager to whoever we get, as already a great PR and media man and he has that Ipswich link we all want, just hurry up and get it sorted Marcus before we throw more points away and get further adrift at the bottom ! COYB !
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mannos6 added 11:48 - Oct 28 Stunnicliffe - glad somebody shares my view think the 5 year plan we need is not for premiership but rebuild and be in the whereabouts for playoffs in championship not fighting to stay in.. If we drop down then its a good case to rebuild like them up the road.
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