The Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 home defeat to Sweden in Friday’s World Cup qualifier has led to renewed speculation that Giovanni Trapattoni’s reign might be coming to an end with Blues boss Mick McCarthy inevitably amongst those said to be in the running to succeed him.

Former Irish international centre-half McCarthy was previously in charge of Ireland for more than five years from 1996 and took them to the second round of the 2002 World Cup where they lost on penalties to Spain.

According to the bookies, the Town manager is the 7-1 second favourite to replace the Italian, who has been in charge since 2008, with the currently-out-of-work Martin O’Neill ahead of him at 2-1. Former Town manager Roy Keane is at 10-1.

Trapattoni, who appears to have no intention of resigning, is contracted to the FAI until after the 2014 World Cup but with qualification increasingly unlikely has been under pressure for some while.

McCarthy was previously tipped for a return to his old job before he joined Town last November, although he dismissed the links: “There were all sorts of stories that I’ve been tapped up and I’ve spoken to them, but it was barefaced lies. Nothing in it at all.”

However, he added that he could be interested in returning to the role at some point in the future should it become vacant: “I’d go back, but when it’s right, when it’s available. I’m not trying to add pressure on to anybody else.”

Soon after McCarthy took over at Portman Road it was reported that his contract included a clause which would allow him to exit Town if the FAI wanted him at the end of 2012/13 campaign without the Blues receiving any compensation, claims the Town boss played down: “I don’t discuss my contract, so where those stories come from I don’t know.”

It’s now reported that the clause expired at the end of August and that the FAI — whose finances are tight - would have to pay what is likely to be significant recompense to Town if they were to make a move for McCarthy.

Meanwhile, the Blues' only other mention in Sunday's tabloids was essentially a rerun of the unlikely Billy Sharp story from earlier in the week.

Photo: Action Images

Michael11 added 12:08 - Sep 9 @RetroBlue Spot on mate. I'm sure Mick has something in his contract that if they approach him he can leave. If they do approach him and he decides to leave then good luck to him, we should all be grateful for what he did last season. If he does leave, we'd be 10x stronger than this time last year! The only worry is there isn't many good managers available at the moment to take the job.

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brendenward35 added 12:19 - Sep 9 For god sake you lot get behind your manager, bet you weren't saying let him go when we stayed up last season? no budget or money to buy players what do you lot honestly expect him to do create miracles? A lot of managers would have thrown in towel by now when no money was given to build the team, at least Mick hasn't turned back credit to him.
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JWM added 12:43 - Sep 9 Don't blame Mick for the boring 'unsophisticated' football, blame Evans for not spending the cash on a couple of quality players this Summer. You can't make a silk purse out of a pigs ear!
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BillBlue added 12:59 - Sep 9 My only comment is that I agree with Retroblue. On a different note I saw Jet play for the first time last week, what a player, I wish he was in our team and what a goal and almost another in the 91st minute, still running strongly and full of enterprise!
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Jimmy86 added 13:18 - Sep 9 Billblue i saw the goal and found myself scratching my head and asking why he never did that in a town shirt, i then came to the conclusion that he tried and failed many times with that sort of "hollywood" moment. Plus he had more than enough chances and was just downright lazy and a luxury we couldnt afford to carry, he may well walk league 1 he just didnt cutnitnin the championship

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bennyitfc added 13:20 - Sep 9 ^^JET is a decent player in a team of distinctly average League 1 players... I watched it on TV and he actually made just as many bad decisions and terrible passes as he did good things. He's inconsistent just as he was with us, and is at his best when the team is built around him, something that ITFC rightly wouldn't allow. I wouldn't describe him as "what a player"
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bennyitfc added 13:23 - Sep 9 It's like saying Kevin Lisbie - what a player, because he's scoring for Leyton Orient. Terrible.
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pazelle added 14:00 - Sep 9 I agree with retroblue, but if we can make the premier league in the next few years we'll be in good shape now that the club is run more sensibly - I'm not judging our players on their price tag, we've had expensive players who were cack so we're due some cheap players who are decent. We've got 2 winnable home games coming up, can see our young team gelling and let's judge the side when it has.

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bohslegend added 14:46 - Sep 9 algarvefan - Turnips? Explain.
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TimmyH added 15:46 - Sep 9 Yeah good post Retroblue (gives a sigh whilst posting)...But not surprising, I think Trapattoni will leave the post and there are obviously other names in the pot with Martin O'Neill another strong candidate. On what Mick has achieved so far with this club has been credible with getting us more organised defensively and escaping the drop but so far including this season I have seen little else, whether this will be enough for the FAI to take him ahead of anybody else and largely being a Championship/small Premiership club manager is up to interpretation.

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Fatboy added 16:32 - Sep 9 Given that it's unusual for a country, or even a club, to re-appoint a former manager, and it's something Ireland have never done before, why should we be worried? Not that worrying would do much good anyway; if he goes, he goes!
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nitroblue1970 added 16:43 - Sep 9 walk the wark....if he goes , he goes! the Poyet shout is a good one..be nice to have mauricio back too...he loved it here and he hates Naaaridge!
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dubblue added 16:48 - Sep 9 I would be surprised if MM left. maybe in 5 years time after town have been promoted and have had 3 years of champions league football! Anyways the FAI hardly will have the resources to pay a release clause, if it still applies and compensate Trap, unless of course Trap resigns. Like the idea of Martin O'Neill either for Ireland or as a replacement for MM Roy Keane will not get the Ireland job while the current FAI leadership is in place.

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Seasider added 16:53 - Sep 9 Surprised at how many on here not bothered what MM does.He wasn't my first choice as I knew the type of football his teams play.He was however ideal for our situation last year;but a lot of fans expectations have risen as a result,which so far have not been met as Ipswich sit in customary 16th/17th in Championship. I do not blame the Manager entirely however as he has not been backed by the owner since arriving last November;so it would not be a complete surprise if he seriously considered his position. I am also a bit worried about Marcus Evans commitment to the club currently,because of the above,also the chaotic matchday ticket arrangements,and the exhorbitant matchday ticket prices which has led to falling gates at Portman Road. I hope that we will be reassured when the loan window opens and he is allowed 2 or 3 more players plus a stellar signing in the New Year. p.s.just saw a pig fly past window !!!

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Bergholtblue added 17:19 - Sep 9 Just bookies odds! Why would the FIA come back for MM? They had him once he did OK and then they got rid. Why would Mick go. He must be pleased with what he achieved in his time there, but seldom do managers return to old haunts and achieve the same degree of success.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:31 - Sep 9 hopefully our recent results will go against him and he gets the bums rush , our need is greater than theirs .I know that may sound a bit Irish , but hey ho .
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Steelmonkey added 17:33 - Sep 9 George Burley has just agreed to buy a house in the town, hope it has got nothing to do with the link about MM possibly vacating the town job, it would be a backwards step to my thinking.
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Steelmonkey added 17:36 - Sep 9 Bergholtblue, my thoughts exactly.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:44 - Sep 9 cant imagine George would be so far ahead of this speculation to buy a house in town ! hopefully MM isnt going anywhere, but should it happen , i think there are plenty of worse managers than George to replace him . [it aint gonna happen ,]
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WickedBlue added 19:05 - Sep 9 @retroblue...great post I agree with 100%!
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BuckieBlue added 22:41 - Sep 9 Like Seasider above I am surprised at how many on here aren't fussed or want MM to go. With our record in recent seasons plus ME's reluctance to spend, can anyone see a similarly experienced/ relatively successful manager looking our way?
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theobald1985 added 08:43 - Sep 10 bennyitfc kevin lisbie was a proven goalscorer in the championship when we signed him we just never gave him decent run of games or got behind him. he was one of the top scorers in the champ the year before in a team that went down. he has scored goals wherever he has been -certainly not rubbish
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