“Hands off,” is Town managing director Ian Milne’s message to other clubs who might be interested in trying to recruit manager Mick McCarthy this summer. Championship strugglers Fulham have been linked with the Blues boss on several occasions, but Milne says the club are yet to receive any approach.

“I’ve heard nothing, of no approach to the club with regard to that,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch on Saturday (from 1hr 11mins).

“Yes, I’ve seen the speculation, I’ve heard nothing from Mick on it and he’s a very honest, loyal person and so there’s nothing at the moment.

“As I say, he remains very loyal to Ipswich and wants to get us up. He signed a three-year deal last summer, so a year’s gone on that and as far as I’m concerned he’s very happy here with the team he’s built up.”

Milne agreed that it would be little surprise if other clubs showed interest in McCarthy, 56, after Town’s impressive season.

“Successful managers like that will be sought after. Aaron Cresswell came to the darts evening last week and said they’re all very happy with Sam Allardyce [at West Ham] but they’re all concerned what’s going to happen after the next seven matches.

“There aren’t that many good managers out there. Mick, Sam Allardyce, who we were talking about, I suppose the last best manager to move was Tony Pulis. I’m sure some people would disagree with me on that, but there aren’t that many good managers and we need to keep hold of him.”

Milne’s message to clubs who might be eyeing McCarthy? “Hands off, but at the end of the day, we don’t know what’s in people’s heads, what they want to do and their ambitions, but at this moment in time Mick is remaining very loyal to us.”

Meanwhile, with the extended early bird deadline having passed on Friday, the Blues MD says season ticket sales have been “buoyant” with revenue up “eight or nine per cent” on this stage last year and sales at more than 12,500, an increase of around 1,000 on a year ago.

Photo: Action Images

blueherts added 20:05 - Apr 13 I think you and I could have got that squad up the road playing !! That is a premiership squad and was in a totally false position
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TimmyH added 20:52 - Apr 13 Have to say some people are in panic mode at the very thought of Mick leaving/going elsewhere and if so we would head straight back to where we were before he arrived!...a little negative thinking in my books. We would still have numerous players that would have played under him anyway (and we would go sraight back down towards the relegation zone)? - you have to be ambitious and leave the past behind and whatever happened a few years back. Yes Mick has done a great job on limited sources but a new manager can get things done with a new ethos and a few new players i.e. Dyche even the new fella at Naarggee has put some fresh impetus into their faltering promotion bid...

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rob1987 added 09:57 - Apr 14 i hate to see the manager leave for resources his had at his dispersal his done incredibly and sure under him we will progress if only mr evans would invest in this manager we would truly go places unlike the last two dreadful managers he employed wasting money onm awful players stick with the manager we will get there he is proven
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aidanj added 14:39 - Apr 14 Does ME need to make some money available in order to keep Mick keen? I personally would be gutted to see him go.
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rob1987 added 20:49 - Apr 14 maybe just depends on what potential suitors could offer mccarthy at another club but he strikes as being a loyal person as good as his been for ipswich we been good for him put him back on the map again
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