Blues manager Mick McCarthy is on “a collision course” with those in control of the purse strings at Portman Road, according to one of this morning’s tabloids.

The People reports that rumours are circulating boardrooms elsewhere that McCarthy is unhappy with his summer transfer war chest and could move on if “the managerial merry-go-round stops at his door”.

It’s not the first time that there have been suggestions that McCarthy is dissatisfied with the budget he discussed with owner Marcus Evans last month.

Former Blues striker Alan Brazil has said that he has heard similar rumours on his Talksport show several times in recent weeks: "I heard a little whisper that perhaps the salaries are going to be cut, not just a little, but massively."

Asked whether he felt McCarthy might move on, he added: "I'm not saying he's going to go, I don't want to start scaremongering but... you're looking to kick on."

Town have already lost out to Blackburn for the signature of former Notts County winger Alan Judge, while ex-Wolves midfielder Stephen Hunt has also been offered significantly better terms by other Championship clubs.

However, speaking towards the end of the season, McCarthy seemed relaxed about competing on an uneven playing field in the transfer market when discussing the limitations that the Financial Fair Play rules would place upon Town: “It’s not fair, but I kind of like kicking against fair. I like all that, a bit of a scrap between the haves and have-nots.”

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace have been linked with a £2 million move for Blues left-back Aaron Cresswell.

The 23-year-old has also recently been mentioned in connection with Aston Villa, who made an enquiry regarding the Liverpudlian last summer.

If there is serious interest from either party, the Blues are likely to want rather more than £2 million for Cresswell with his former club Tranmere due 20% of any profit Town make on the £420,000 they have paid for the full-back since he moved to Portman Road in July 2011. A fee of around £3 million would appear a more realistic price.

Released Sunderland defender Matt Kilgallon is again linked with the Blues, with the 29-year-old widely reported to have held talks with Town earlier in the week.

Town, newly-promoted Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Reading are all targeting released Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, according to one of Sunday’s papers.

Blues boss McCarthy was the man who took the 27-year-old to Molineux but a reunion at Town seems unlikely with Ebanks-Blake set to miss the start of the season having suffered a broken leg and undergone ankle surgery towards the end of the last campaign.

Photo: Action Images

Keaneish added 23:34 - Jun 2 H32 - it's probably because these claims are completely unsubstantiated. No real source, no quote so it's probably understandable stories like this lead to condemnation from everyone on here when all current stories on the table seen to suggest its untrue. Here's hoping a couple of deals get done soon to put stories like this to bed.
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Dissboyitfc added 00:15 - Jun 3 Keaneish....well said
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walberswick added 01:36 - Jun 3 Marcus Evans can get his teams new shirts manufactured and ready to go, but can't get a few players in. MM is obviosly looking for somrthing better, he can't shut up about it. We are the new Peterborough.
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warktheline added 11:53 - Jun 3 H32,you seem to have a problem with things going well at the club,anyone with a positive attitude you deem to be day dreamers.
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BlueVelvet added 12:43 - Jun 3 MM is cute enough to have discussed war chest contents when he was being considered for the job last Autumn so cant believe he wasn't aware of any constraints
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theobald1985 added 13:40 - Jun 3 if mick does not wish to work with the budget and conditions layed down by evans he will go its as simple as that. personally i think it would be a cop out and not the type of behaviour you would expect from him so its unlikely. to my mind we dont need many players anyway so dont really see what the problem is. I think cutting the wage budget and a 5k a week cap is a good thing in the long run as it forces the manager to look for hungry players in lower divisions rather than old has beens. I would like mick to stay but if he wants to leave so he can sign players up on massive wages elswhere then he is welcome to go. RE alan brazil-i really enjoy the sports brekfast and think people are being harsh on him. he is a journalist and broadcaster now and is just doing his job and he always speaks highly of ITFC so cut him some slack

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JWM added 15:16 - Jun 3 Sorry but for a moment I thought you said that cutting the wage bill to £5k a week can only be a good thing!!! I hope you are only joking because if this is true then we don't stand a cat in hells chance of attracting any decent players! Most of our so called competitors will be laughing at us if we are limiting our wage structure to this relatively low amount.
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theobald1985 added 17:15 - Jun 3 no JWM you heard me right. what you have ask is how much these big time charlies wanting 15k a week are better than up and coming players from the lower leagues or scottish leagues or indeed europe. u dont always get what you pay for and not paying obscene wages and having hard working players who want to be here is what we all want is it not? i think blackpool had a 8k limit and went up and damm near survived in the prem

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h32 added 17:56 - Jun 3 walktheline - you seem to have a problem with what's in front of you. Common knowledge that our Manager ( the best we've had in a while - yes ? ) - is unhappy with what he has remit to do, in bringing players in - is that good ? Things are NOT looking as positive as they could be from a Club that (hopefully) wants to move forward. Maybe the head should go back in the sand for a while - and when you surface all will be fine. If things are not right for MM - he will walk make no mistake.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 18:17 - Jun 3 h32, I agree with you. If as a club we show no ambition to compete in the top 6, I,m pretty sure that MM & TC will have offers from other clubs who will be able to offer them some financial backing & could be tempted to leave. I,m not advocating silly money but we have to be at least competitive.
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Pessimistic added 19:24 - Jun 3 As I alluded to in my blog last week that was ridiculed by many, there is every chance that Mick McCarthy might look elsewhere - especially if he thinks he is being undermined by the board. My greatest fear remains the Irish job. Their Italian coach Trappatoni is much older than Mighty Mick but has so far been unsuccessful. If the Irish fail to qualify for the finals then given Mick's track record at International level with this team that constantly under achieves, then this is the time to worry!

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bluelodgeblue added 19:57 - Jun 3 Agree with jas0999 have said it all along, if ME tightens the purse strings to a point that MM feels he's not going to be supported financially he will walk. You only have to look at ME's track record last year with PJ ??? Also MM may well go to another championship club which does show ambition (Brighton)? It does not always revolve around the premier.
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JWM added 12:52 - Jun 4 H32... That's what I really like about you! Always a positive ray of sunshine!
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WickedBlue added 13:05 - Jun 4 Oh no Alan Brazil hears a rumour passed it on on his radio programme Ipswich fans have hissy fits! Too funny time some people grew up!
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BobbyBlueLamb123 added 15:40 - Jun 4 Give him the same cash to spend as the managers before him at least
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h32 added 20:21 - Jun 4 JWM - it's called 'seeing it as it really is' - and not living in a make believe world - like some do !!! And talking of 'sunshine' - it's high time we had a season or two of it - at Portman Road. That won't happen without appreciating a good Manager - and backing him with belief - and that entails releasing the purse strings a bit to bring in the right players. Alternative is to 'keep dreaming' - and 'talking' - of course.

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