New boss Mick McCarthy is delighted to be back in management but admits that he had some qualms about taking over at a club which is currently bottom of the Championship. McCarthy, whose appointment on a contract until the summer of 2015 along with his Wolves assistant Terry Connor, was confirmed this morning, was paraded at a Portman Road press conference late this afternoon.

McCarthy said he was pleased to be back in football nine months after be sacked by Wolves: “It’s great. For now! I’ll tell you on Saturday night at five o’clock! It feels good, I’m delighted to be back. It’s a good club, it has a good feel about it.

“I did [have qualms about taking on a team bottom of the Championship]. I would have liked another job in the Premier League, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

“I needed a rest away from it as well. I realised that and then I got this opportunity. It’s a fantastic club with a great fanbase with a terrific history to it.

“What it hasn’t got at the moment is a particularly good team, that’s the bottom line. Paul’s a mate of mine, as is Hutch, I’m certainly not going to be disrespectful to them, they would say the same — if you’re bottom of the league there are problems.”

He admits that he joins Town at a low ebb with thoughts of returning to the top flight a long way from his mind: “Premier League? I’m talking about staying in the Championship for now. I think that the first job is to get them out of the bottom three and stay up, that’s going to be a task in itself.

“Looking at Marcus Evans’s track record, he’s backed every manager he’s worked with and I think if he sees that it’s going in the right way, and it’s being run in the right way, then he’ll back me as well and give me an opportunity to progress.

“But let’s deal with the real issue at hand — we’re bottom of the league, struggling like hell at the minute, let’s try and get them out of that position first.”

He added: “In the short-term we need six points to get out of that. We’ve got two away games, it might take a while to do that.

“We’ll have some good days and we’ll have some bad days but what we’ve got to do is keep focused and confident that we can get out of there in the short-term. And that’s the only way we can push on is by getting out of there.”

He says he was headhunted by Town and admits to more than a sharp intake of breath when he was first contacted: “I didn’t apply for it so obviously yes. I thought ‘Oh shit’ actually to start with when I got the call. I saw where they were and saw they were being beaten."

He admits that the loan situation isn’t ideal: “There’s a problem with loan players I think.

"I do think that is an issue. I hear one of the loan players, Richie Wellens, is saying they don’t care enough. It’s not perfect to have so many loan players but there’s some good talent."

McCarthy says if he senses the same as Wellens, those players won’t be around for long: “If they don’t care, they won’t play, but everybody looks you in the eye and says ‘I really want to play’. Performances tell more than any other words do.

“I’m sad that some of my team now would be casting aspersions against others. But it’s interesting that it’s a loan player that comes in and says it because he’s from outside, a fresh voice, another one that can perhaps see the wood from the trees a little bit. But I hope I don’t see that they don’t care.”

As he prepares for his first game in charge at Birmingham on Saturday the 53-year-old says he’s started to go through recordings of previous games and says some were worse than others: “I don’t know what the root cause [of Town's struggles] is.

"I’ve had a look at a couple of DVDs today. One was horrendous against Sheffield Wednesday, should have watched it on Halloween that one.

“Looking at the Brighton and Derby games, they actually played all right and had chances. It’s bizarre. I’ll get a chance to look at a few more and I’ll see it for myself on Saturday."

Regarding what team he'll play in that game, he is still to make up his mind: “St Andrew’s is a tough place to go and play. A couple of the young ‘uns have impressed me today in training. I’ll see, I’ll have a look tomorrow and make a decision on it.”

Photo: Action Images

Liastro added 20:36 - Nov 1 When PJ was appointed (and this is not just from benefit of hindsight) I really didn't understand the optimism. Sure we'd got got rid of Keane and brought in a more likeable guy, but it just felt like the most mediocre choice out there. I've never really liked McCarthy, but I really do have a good feeling about this. I simply can't see us going down with him and in a couple of years time I can really see us being quite hard to beat. Whether we like his football or not, he'll turn us into a side which will annoy the hell out of our opponents.

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Dowson added 20:40 - Nov 1 Micks the man to push us up the table
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Michael11 added 20:42 - Nov 1 It's a big job to try and avoid relegation this season but i think if the players respond well to Mick then we'll be no where near being relegated come May. Hopefully after that we can push on next season with a few transfers in and out so he has a squad he can call his own and then take it from there. I'm very happy with the appointment and think Evans and Clegg deserve a pat on the back.

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Michael11 added 20:48 - Nov 1 @Liastro_3109 you definitely just copied and pasted that exact comment from someone on the last post by the way!
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mrivancampo added 20:51 - Nov 1 hmm, would still prefer PJ at the helm, thouht he had built a good side, and with a few more games things would have come good for old PJ. That said i do wish Maccarthy all the best in the short term
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BotesdaleBlue added 20:52 - Nov 1 I like the what he has to say already. I just have a feeling he is the right man and we have at last turned a corner with his appointment. Welcome to Town, Mick
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Norwichbeater added 20:55 - Nov 1 i wish him every success and i am sure he will sort this team out. on a funny note that top picture of him and clegg looks like a father and son picture!!!
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siebdykstra added 20:56 - Nov 1 I think this is a great appointment. At first I wanted Di Canio or Robinson, but when you look at the at the way our players are behaiving, Mac is probably right. Di Canio would have just sacked everyone, Robinson doesn't have the experience to deal with players like that. Mick Mac will sort those out that can't be bothered and set up a decent squad. And for those that say he won't play the Ipswich way and will be boring as hell. 1-0 at home for most games followed by 0-0 away will see us in the same division next year. Thanks for coming Mick. COYB!

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tractorsimon1975 added 20:56 - Nov 1 he should of watch all the dvds on halloween weve been shocking all season good luck mick hope u can save us from where we are now and push us up the table coyb
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PutYaBootsOnKeano added 20:56 - Nov 1 game on. very matter-of-facct. unapologetic, and unintimidated is what i think we have here. hope he keeps being unapologetic.
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buryblue77 added 20:57 - Nov 1 I love his honesty, I mean I think I'd even think 'Oh S**t' if Town had contacted me lol. He was my choice from the start and I'm fully behind him, onwards and upwards now. COYB!!!
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ericclacton added 20:57 - Nov 1 Big job, I think it's a massive ask. I wish him all the best only time will tell.
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oscarwhiting added 20:58 - Nov 1 Hopefully it's a task your able to succeed in mick COYB
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martleshamitfc added 21:00 - Nov 1 You can't knock him for his honesty. This is what i like about him, down to earth and says it as it is. will take no crap from any players and will pick a team on merit and hard work. Good to hear he is already talking about the younger players. As fans let's give him a chance and be patient, he will turn it around i am sure, but it will not happen overnight.
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northstand78 added 21:03 - Nov 1 Big mick will sort us out..unfairly sacked from wolves when i believe he would have kept them up.. Give him until the season and then lets judge him..
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VINNIEBLUE added 21:04 - Nov 1 I THINK, IF HE KEEPS US UP, FANTASTIC BUT HE KNOWS ITS A MORE ROOTED PROBLEM THAN THAN, 5 YEAR CONTRACT SHOULD HAVE OFFERED. HE IS A LOYAL MAN, LEAGUE 1, SO BE IT, ON A 2 AND HALF YEAR CONTRACT, PRESSURE, ALWAYS PRESSURE. HE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO BREATH TO BE ABLE TO INSTALL LIFE BACK IN TO THIS CLUB.
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oscarwhiting added 21:10 - Nov 1 And it's good that he's looking at the young lads
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jas0999 added 21:11 - Nov 1 Very impressed with McCarthy's forst interview - no nonscence. I hope we see that on the field. Would much prefer to hear the truth and how it is. Good luck to Mick. I simply can not understand how some posters still believe PJ was going to move us forward however - the current mess should speak volumes! Time to draw a line and hope that Mick can get us out of this mess.

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Norwichbeater added 21:12 - Nov 1 i would love to know who is giving the negative marks to each post. they have only been positive comments so far!!!!!!!
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Bluetone added 21:13 - Nov 1 "McCarthy says if he senses the same as Wellens, those players won't be around for long: “If they don't care, they won't play, but everybody looks you in the eye and says ‘I really want to play'. Performances tell more than any other words do." Now that will worry some of our "Stars" and rightly so.
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SickParrot added 21:15 - Nov 1 Very happy with this appointment. Given our current situation Evans and Clegg have done very well (never thought I would be saying that!)to attract a manager with such a good record as McCarthy. As we are well adrift at the bottom of the league, confidence is so low and the commitment of some of the players is in doubt this is a job for an experienced, no-nonsense manager. It will not happen overnight but Mick will sort out our defence, build a better team spirit and change the existing losing mentality. I expect him to get rid of the players that dont really care and bring in the right players in January. Come on Big Mick.

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tractorollson added 21:16 - Nov 1 Totally the right man to pull us out of the mess! Love his honesty and his realism, welcome mick and you have my full support!
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bluelad7 added 21:17 - Nov 1 If I were one of these "so-called" players of ours, I'd be crapping myself right now! How many will surprising end up injured over the next 2-4 weeks. Mick, get the weed killer out and return Gods playground to the smooth surface it should be (even if it means a little hoof ball). Most important things are the points, commitment (players) and unity (fans and players). YOUR BLUE ARMY NEEDS YOU - STAND UP AND BE COUNTED ONE AND ALL

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jeera added 21:17 - Nov 1 siebdykstra added 20:56 - Nov 1 "At first I wanted Di Canio or Robinson, but when you look at the at the way our players are behaiving, Mac is probably right. Di Canio would have just sacked everyone, Robinson doesn't have the experience to deal with players like that. Mick Mac will sort those out that can't be bothered and set up a decent squad." Mac? When the feck has he ever been known as Mac?

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Norwichbeater added 21:19 - Nov 1 Players to start worrying in my opinion. Top of the list Chopra Jet Martin Murphy and possibly Edwards. Players who may get a chance Loach Smith Hyam Carson Scotland Murray. He will not tolerate the bad apples and will get the best out of the ones that care.
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