Town boss Mick McCarthy reflected on the progress made during his three years in charge at tonight’s Supporters Club AGM at Legends in the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand on Thursday evening.

McCarthy celebrates his third anniversary at Portman Road on Sunday. The Blues manager took part in a not overly critical question and answer session with fans chaired by Simon Milton with his assistant Terry Connor joining him on the top table.

Quizzed on how he feels his first three years have gone and where he foresees things in another three years’ time, he said: “From three years ago when we had seven points and we were rock bottom, I don’t think morale was particularly good on the pitch, off the pitch, in the club.

“Certainly results hadn’t been good. I don’t think the standing of the club was what it used to be either. I think people had started looking at it differently and not with the same respect.

“I would like to think in that three years [we’ve been here] when we went 14th, ninth, sixth, progress year on year has been made.

“The squad is certainly better, stronger than when I walked in here when we had seven loan players.

“And then the question will be ‘Why aren’t we doing as well as everybody thinks we should be?’, and I think we should be as well. That’s what we’re trying to fathom out between ourselves and the players.”

He says the players now have a deeper affection for the club than was the case before he took over: “What I would say is that what you have got now and didn’t have when I walked in the door is a squad of players that care about the club, care about the fans, they care about the area, they live in the area, they work here.

“Some of them are on loan, of course, but the reality is that there’s a much stronger feeling for the club.

“Anybody who works within the club, socially, commercially will tell you that they go out, do the visits, are very proud of the fact they do that, all the work in the community.

“And they put a shift in on the pitch and they care about the club, they care about you guys.

“And they care at the moment that the results aren’t going well and we’re all trying our best to get back.

“I’d still love to be here in three years’ time and we’d like to be in the Premier League, and that’s what we’re aspiring to, and we’ll try and start that off on Saturday against Cardiff.”

What areas of the squad will McCarthy look to strengthen in January? “I wouldn’t tell you, even if I was!

“I’m saying we’ve got a better squad, so I wonder what we could get, in terms of the budget we have, that would be better than what we’ve already got.

“My view is that we’ve got a good squad and that we will continue to work and to try and get the best out of them and ensure we start winning and move up the league.

“I’m not looking for new players and I’m not going to stand here and tell you which ones we’ve been looking for and positions we’re looking for because I never do that anyway.”

Does he have a budget for January? “I haven’t broached that subject, to be honest with you. We’re constantly looking at players home and abroad.

“And if those fall into a budget I would go and ask [owner Marcus Evans] the question, if we could sign them, and if we could we’ll do so. And if we can’t we won’t, which has been my way all the time, I’ve never changed.”

McCarthy, who reiterated that he thinks the Championship has got stronger, says he won’t discuss private conversations he might have about players with Evans, who he praised for being a very supportive owner.

“I wouldn’t disclose my discussions,” he said. “I don’t know what you do for a living, whether you’re in business, but if you’re conducting your business - and I know it’s a very public business ours - but there has to be a private side to it as well, how we deal with it and I wouldn’t give away a confidence about how I deal with TC, with Ian Milne, with Milts if that’s my business, and certainly not with Marcus Evans.

“I’ve said before I’ve had all the support from Marcus I’ve ever been promised. And what he does give in support is a real, personal, emotional sort of support.

“When we’re having a tough time like we are at the minute then he’s there to support me and make sure I can still be here, TC can be still here and we can take the club forward, as we’ve done for the last three years.”

The 100 or so fans present applauded the Blues boss. He was subsequently asked about the team he fielded for the Capital One Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford when he made 11 changes to the side which had played in the previous league game.

“My apologies for that,” he said. “I did it with the best intentions that we would be in the best shape to beat [Bristol City on the Saturday], because we [didn’t beat Bristol City].

“So yes, I do regret it, I wish I’d best team out, we’d have got slapped, you’d have paid £40, we’d have come back, we’d have been knackered and we might still have lost.

“Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, which I don’t have. But I have to say, I think Manchester United may just have beaten us whatever team I’d put out. It was the result on the Saturday that disappointed me more than anything.”

McCarthy was quizzed on his goalkeepers and whether he should have remained loyal to Bartosz Bialkowski and put him back in the side after he had returned from Poland following the death of his father having previously been the man in possession of the shirt.

“I could have said that about Gerks when his wife had just given birth and he was carried off the pitch at Middlesbrough,” McCarthy reminded the questioner.

“Would I say to Bart at that time ‘That that was a little bit unfair on Gerks that, I really think he should have the shirt back’? I don’t think so.

“And Gerks has got in and if there’s one person I feel sorry for [it’s him], he’s been pulling saves off all over the place.

“I guess that whoever was at Forest on Saturday will all be blaming him no doubt for his punch. Not a chance in my mind. He came and punched it and it’s one of those things. It should never have got there.

“He’s been outstanding and balls keep flying in the net but I don’t think many have been down to him. He’s got us points.

“But in terms of being loyal to them, I don’t think that was the way I was ever going to be with Bart.”

As the half an hour session drew to a close, he again reflected on his time at Town and what he believes support is all about.

“I’ve stood here on two or three other occasions and everything’s been going swimmingly,” he added.

“Now things have been going the other way. It’s interesting, I think the definition of support is trying to hold something up, so while I’m just having a bit of a wobble, that’s when I could do with a bit of support.

“People say to me, ‘Who supports you?’. Here’s one [TC], he’d get the keys to my house, that lad, and my car. No problem.

“Right behind him, Dave Bowman, my director of football, there’s support. It’s difficult when it’s going wrong, it’s difficult to say anything, to smile, speak to people, to be as normal as you usually are.

“But that is the definition of support - sticking with somebody sometimes through thick and thin.

“And you know what it is, it’s sticking with them when you know they are the best solution. And maybe that’s me stood here as well.”

Fans again applauded the Town boss and after a couple more questions McCarthy and Connor were replaced at the top table by MD Ian Milne, supporters liaison officer and club secretary Sally Webb, finance director Mark Andrews, director of sales Rosie Richardson, media manager Steve Pearce and operations director from new outside caterers Centerplate, Matt Nicholson.

Milne started by giving some figures, attendances were 15 per cent up last season compared with season before, season tickets are up by 10 per cent this season, corporate hospitality is up by 13 per cent and retail sales up by 51 per cent, which he said was no surprise given the deal with adidas.

“We’re doing very well, a lot of this is to do with how we’re doing on the pitch and we had a great season last season,” he said.

“I’m not going to go into football, that’s very much Mick’s territory. We’re having a blip at the moment but I’m sure we will get through it.

“We are doing well, my team are working very hard to improve the enjoyment off the field. I personally enjoy what Mick and the boys do on the field having been to nearly all their matches this season.

“I’m sure I’ll be asked in a minute, ‘Why doesn’t Marcus give Mick £10 million to go and buy who he wants to go and buy?’.

“It’s now eight years ago that my boss Marcus Evans took over the club and in those first four or five years he spent a lot of money with Roy [Keane] and with Paul [Jewell] who tried their damnedest to improve the club.

“But it really wasn’t until Mick came on the scene with his team, he talked about Dave Bowman and Terry Connor, who really dragged us up by the bootstraps to get us where we are today.

“And hence this is why we’ve been getting the success that we have. Having been there at Nottingham Forest on Saturday it was a horrible last few minutes, but we’ve now got to look to the next match on Saturday.

“So I think you've got to take it as a whole and where we’ve come from and certainly when I was listening to Mick, I’m going to say I’m going to stick with Mick.”

Milne was asked why Town seem to be the only club adhering to the Financial Fair Play rules with QPR seemingly having got away with breaking them when on the way to promotion from the Championship in 2013/14 and still spending money.

“There are other clubs who play by the [FFP] rules and a lot of teams are embargoed trying to get their squads right down,” Milne said.

“Having played them recently, there are two teams below us that are paying out in salaries about 40 per cent more than we are. So it doesn’t necessarily mean that if you pay more you’re going to have a good team. It doesn’t work like that.

“It really is down to the manager and getting the right squad of players. Why don’t we want to [break FFP limits]? You get stuck with an embargo.”

He added: “To be fair, over the eight years Marcus has put millions and millions and millions in. He’s still putting in five or six million-plus [a year], he fills that loss gap.

“As you’ve heard from Mick, Mick and Marcus talk regularly about players, what is the right deal to do.

“You won’t find Mick or Dave Bowman wanting to pay above what is the market salary. We’ve got beyond those days."

Milne says he shared the questioner's concern regarding the situation with QPR and the FFP fine they are challenging.

“We are told by the Football League that that is still in mediation but they won’t tell us where that mediation is,” Milne continued.

“There are a number of us CEOs who are putting pressure on the Football League - [club secretary] Sally Webb has also been involved with this - to try and find out what is going to happen to QPR.

“The real issue with this is that if the Football League can’t enforce the rules what’s the point in having the rules? It’s going to be anarchy out there, so I’m on your side on that one, we all are. We need to get to the bottom of it to make sure the rules are enforced.”

You can find live updates from the AGM covering all the questions asked here.

Photo: Action Images

gazmangaz added 10:29 - Oct 30 The fans have and will support ITFC through thick and thin but that doesn't mean we will support the manager in the same way. If we don't like the style of play and the poor results you will quickly lose our support. Most of us will always support the town long after you have gone elsewhere ! We are here because we love the club and pay handsomely for the privilege of watching them, you on the other hand are only here because you are over paid for your efforts !

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gazmangaz added 10:36 - Oct 30 The fans have and will support ITFC through thick and thin but that doesn't mean we will support the manager in the same way. If we don't like the style of play and the poor results you will quickly lose our support. Most of us will always support the town long after you have gone elsewhere ! We are here because we love the club and pay handsomely for the privilege of watching them, you on the other hand are only here because you are over paid for your efforts !

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blootheref added 10:42 - Oct 30 Wouldn't mind seeing a bit more positivity here guys. I agree it's been such a disappointing run, but no comments were made regarding 'square pegs, round holes' when we was top of the league; all I seem to remember seeing was 'in Mick we trust', 'could do with a creative midfielder' possibly. Come on guys, two home games, a great chance to get back on track, so lets get behind the team and be true supporters!

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Keaneish added 10:51 - Oct 30 Here's a conundrum for the anti-Mick brigade which are rife on this forum: Magilton or Mick?
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Surco72 added 10:52 - Oct 30 "Criticism of McCarthy in the media became increasingly intense after a poor start to Ireland's qualifying campaign for Euro 2004. In particular, his persistence with several players and tactics that some perceived to be inadequate did him damage," Not a lot changed in 11 years still the same style of play , still has favourites who are undroppable and still doesnt care about others views . Will always support Ipswich but it doesnt mean you have to support the poor standard of football we are paying over the top for in win percentage or entertainment value

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JimmyJazz added 11:14 - Oct 30 Keaneish - Mick all day long. Magilton was never a manager, he was a cheap option and an experiment.
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dirtyboy added 11:25 - Oct 30 It's true though, we all have wobbles, he's man enough to admit one is happening and wants support. We know he's stubborn, so it's clear jumping on his back is not the solution. You don't become a bad manger over night and that back four don't become poor overnight either, so I'm very confident we'll turn it around sooner or later. Negativity breeds negativity, don't let it, no matter what you think, because Mick isn't going nowhere, so pointless questioning the situation.

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Keaneish added 11:53 - Oct 30 Interesting read: http://www.wolvesfancast.com/mick-mccarthy-wolves/
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Geoff added 12:07 - Oct 30 Club and owner have no ambition just empty words,there is no way on this earth that this current squad is good enough the league table does not lie.Is it MM fault only partly ( no funds ) What is he persists with a keeper and back four which would struggle in league one, a midfield with no balance and a forward who is off form,no wonder we are struggling. we must bring in more quality in January and put players in their natural positions.

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bostonusablue added 12:31 - Oct 30 I've never read so many comments that I agree with. A pointless exercise indeed; just PR spin. Were the 100 attendees all Mick's extended family from Ireland? People saying we need a right back in the transfer window; I'd say we need an entire new back 5 because Knudsen is useless, Smith and Berra out of form and we have two goalkeepers who flap more than a seagull.

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bostonusablue added 12:34 - Oct 30 Keanish, I would take Magilton any day of the week. He was Ipswich through and through. He tried to get the team to play the right way and managed to finish 7th in the table. I can't believe that he was fired for achieving those results when our chairman seems a lot more patient these days.
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Arnie added 12:40 - Oct 30 Let's see where we finish at the end of the season, in the meantime get behind the team and no sneaky boos if a mistake is made. At the end of the day, ME will decide MM's fate and none of us will have any say in the decision.
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bostonusablue added 12:41 - Oct 30 Just read the link posted by Keanish and two Wolves fans both commented about MM playing his favorites week in week out and out of position. I guess nothing has changed.
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Surco72 added 12:41 - Oct 30 Keanish ... that article is exactly my thoughts on MM .He has done a fantastic job in stabilising us at a difficult time for the club , but his style and presence can take the club no farther and is leaving us further and further away from where we supposedly want to be playing football in the premier league . Parting with managers even if they have done well is what progressive chasing chairmen who want success will do if you come to a plateau , look at Saints and West Ham highest placed finishes for years and get rid of managers and go on to a higher level .

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TR11BLU added 12:47 - Oct 30 @surco72 tried giving you three pluses for that!
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muccletonjoe added 13:05 - Oct 30 Seems as though there are clearly 2 factions forming here, the stick with mick brigade who think the manager will turn it around very soon and the sick of mick brigade who think we are on a crash course for a relegation battle. I am in the latter
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Keaneish added 14:15 - Oct 30 Reason i posed the Jim / Mick question is that Mick's game tomorrow see's him draw level on total number of games managed by Magilton and they're both in the same position with the same criticism "square pegs round holes", "playing their favourites", "dour football" etc... Whether we like Mick's brand of football or not i think he has tried to change it this year and come unstuck which leaves him in a bit of uncertain territory. Does he stick with what he knows ala that Wolves article or does he try something new which presumably the likes of Maitland-Niles, Pitman, Fraser, Oar etc have been brought in for? I think he felt he had a solid base with that back four to give licence to those flair players but for whatever reason it's crumbled and the Reading spanking put the fear in him. Either way, i see more in this squad than i have done since Royle was in charge but has Mick learnt from his mistakes and will he be brave? The next 5 winnable games are key for me. Good results and performances and we have a springboard. Bad results going into Christmas and the knives are really out. I for one am hoping the formula is unearthed starting Saturday but having watched Cardiff on Monday night, i fear he'll go like for like given the way they set-up and we'll be in for a nip and tuck game with 2 rigid 4-4-2's on display which won't do much to keep the knives sheathed for another week! Still he's lasted longer than, raised more cash than, got a better squad than, spent less money than and got a better win % than Magilton so it's not all doom and gloom. The performances and the results just need to start happening and soon!

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TCisMYcatsNAME added 21:14 - Oct 30 Fair comments Keanish. Although I completely support Mick I don't think he is immune from criticism. I just feel he has done enough to earn our support and patience while he tries to turn this bad spell around.
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