Blues boss Mick McCarthy is increasingly viewed as the frontrunner to return to his old job as Ireland manager in reports in most of the Irish papers this morning. The FAI are understood to have stepped up their recruitment process and want their new boss in place prior to the friendlies with Hungary and Poland on November 15th and 19th.

McCarthy and Martin O’Neill are widely believed to be the only candidates currently in the FAI’s sights with the Irish Mirror claiming Town owner Marcus Evans has issued a “hands-off warning” to Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter, the men charged with identifying Giovanni Trapattoni’s successor.

Yesterday, Town MD Ian Milne told TWTD that the Blues had received no contact from the FAI “that [he was] aware of”. Milne said that Town are keen to keep hold of the 54-year-old, who is contracted until the summer of 2015.

If the FAI were to firm up their interest then they would have to pay the Blues compensation, a clause allowing McCarthy to take the Ireland job without Town receiving recompense having ended at the start of the season.

While McCarthy, now the bookies’ favourite, is said to have his advocates at the FAI, O’Neill is also said to have his supporters, although it’s believed there are also those who have reservations about employing the Northern Irishman without John Robertson as his assistant.

The former Scotland winger - who is currently recovering from a heart attack - worked with his ex-Nottingham Forest team-mate at his more successful clubs, but not at his most recent side Sunderland.

There is also speculation that O’Neill, 61, may be holding out for a Premier League club, having been linked with Fulham and his old club Norwich in recent weeks.

When questioned about the vacancy last month McCarthy - who has stated he'd like to return to the job he held between 1996 and 2002 at some point in the future - said he expected O’Neill to be given the job, but admitted he didn’t know what his response would be if he were to be approached: “My understanding is that Martin’s got it. I’m not looking for it.

“I prefer to make my decisions when somebody [in charge] asks me the question, not a journalist. If somebody does ask me the question, what will I do? I haven’t got a bleeding clue.”

Photo: Action Images

Bandbox_Blue added 12:22 - Oct 17 Yippee.....The 16-1 is looking good now.
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StowTractorBoy added 12:29 - Oct 17 All very unsettling for supporters and players alike. This issue needs to be sorted sooner rather than later so we all know where the Club stands. Love Mick to bits and will always be grateful to him for saving us last season but fear the writing is on the wall and he will depart. Hope I'm wrong.
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ITFCed added 12:36 - Oct 17 is it possible for him to do both jobs?
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BotesdaleBlue added 12:38 - Oct 17 TopOfTheChops - definately not!
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Ipswich_Crazy added 12:44 - Oct 17 Why not? It works on fifa 14 lol
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mikeybloo88 added 12:50 - Oct 17 I'd be ok with this, as long as we get Karl Robinson in as a replacement
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HighgateBlue added 12:57 - Oct 17 Seriously - Ruud Dokter?
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whosroundisitanyway added 13:09 - Oct 17 This definately needs putting to bed sooner than later. Its not what anybody needs going into a game against the table toppers at the weekend. There needs to be a definative statement (something we allways seem to lack in these situations) from MM or ME so that everybody knows where they stand. I also think there should be some sort of window in place outside of the league season so that National sides can't come knocking on the door whenever they fancy. It would be interesting aswell to know what sort of compensatory package would be offered now that Mick's get out clause is no longer in place?

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garethch added 13:11 - Oct 17 Surely not! Why would he go back there now, they have a far worse squad than when he left & can't see how he would be any more successful than he was the last time. Not like they are ever gonna do much more than qualify for a tournament, maybe get to a last 16, big deal! Would lose a lot of respect for him if he did this as it would clearly be just about money. Come on Mick, finish what you have started here, don't make the classic mistake of going back!

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Robbie12345 added 13:17 - Oct 17 "Hands-off warning" Marcus won't let it happen.. Unless we get 6-8m compensation its not worth it, maybe give Mick another 250k to settle his thoughts?
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mutters added 13:19 - Oct 17 hes a goner i am afraid. if he wasnt interested in it now he would have said so. hes kept his options open (and i am not blaming him for this as most of us would if we wanted the role) and so the speculation has increased. all it will take is a direct offer, agree compensation and bam we are back to looking for a new manager. i wonder what Geroge Burely is up to these days....

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muccletonjoe added 13:30 - Oct 17 So bored with this
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muhrensleftfoot added 13:37 - Oct 17 I'd be very surprised if Mick took the job now. Very unlikely to get success with the current crop of Irish players, whereas at ITFC he has a realistic chance of promotion in the next 2 years. Also he seems to enjoy the day to day involvement at club level. I wouldn't be surprised if he took it some time in the future, maybe in 5 to 10 years, but the time isn't right. Also ME being the businessman that he is, would demand full compensation for his contract probably worth a couple of million, & I wonder if the FAI would be willing to pay.

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mutters added 13:45 - Oct 17 @muhrensleftfoot sorry i have to disagree with this. hes had the job before so he knows all about the lack of day to day and it wouldnt be a deterrent to him. he might even prefer that as he seems keend to go back! he could potentially be in the role for 8+ years and that would give him time to plan for and with the next crop of Irish youngsters. ME would demand compensation but maybe in the back MEs mind is that if he could get a couple of milllion for Mick then thats the next managers wages covered for a couple of years I am not sure we've a realisitc change of promotion. we have a chance, albeit it a small one via the playoffs, but with more and more team dropping down with money in their pockets, its going to be tough. he's Irish (albeit yorkshire born). He has more allegiances to Ireland than sunny Suffolk all things considered if hes offered it he will take it imo. you never know when these opportunties come around again.

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BroskiBeen added 13:49 - Oct 17 I'm actually really worried about this, he obviously wants the Job if he put a clause in the contact about it, I know it's run out now, but it still shows he wants the ireland job, and people seem to forget Martin O'Neil is Northern Irish and the troubles between those nations, if he starts to fail you know what people will say and do.
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Bluetone added 14:20 - Oct 17 Roy Keane should get the Irish Job.
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bluemikey100 added 15:00 - Oct 17 oh well less than a month left with mick at the helm it seems
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RetroBlue added 15:19 - Oct 17 All of this speculation would end in an instance if the main man would come out and categorically distance himself from this job. So how about Mick: Which side of the fench are you on ITFC or The Irish International job. OUR CLUB DESERVES SOME STABILITY. Speak up Mick and either end this speculation by saying you are and will remain Town s manager, or go quickly so we can find a replacement!!

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Blue041273 added 15:52 - Oct 17 At the end of the day this is still just speculation and MM is just a name in the frame. I think we can all take it as read that MM would be seriously interested in the position if offered; otherwise why would he have had a release clause in his initial contract? However, because of his previous experience as manager of the Irish National Team this would not necessarily be a marriage made in heaven, but more like one of convenience. While he undoubtedly has his supporters in the FAI, his appointment would not be universally welcomed in Ireland and MM would probably want to be certain that he would be allowed to do the job in his own way. It is by no means a certainty that all the relevant parties will come to a mutual agreement quickly or easily. As a man currently under contract, the issues surrounding his potential recruitment will undoubtedly be more problematic than those surrounding someone without a job currently such as Martin O'Neill. So let's not panic quite yet.

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ipswich_4_life added 15:55 - Oct 17 If he does go Karl Robinson has to be appointed. He lives near ipswich (probably) young manager with good tactical awareness
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senduntd added 16:36 - Oct 17 I can't believe we are losing another good manager to a national team. Lets hope its just paper talk.
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SouperJim added 17:19 - Oct 17 He's going nowhere folks. The FAI will never pay the compo required.
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whittonite added 17:33 - Oct 17 if mick goes will t c go with him? i'm not so sure, i think that he might fancy a crack at it. and we've seen when mick was off sick he was capable of getting the players at it.that would be my ideal solution for a looming couple of weeks of uncertainty....
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Marshalls_Mullet added 17:39 - Oct 17 O'Neill will be pleased with being called 51 Phil. 61.
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bluemikey100 added 17:48 - Oct 17 T C for the town job
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