Boss Mick McCarthy says it's flattering to be linked with the vacant Aston Villa manager’s job and was coy when asked to rule himself out of the running, while admitting that he is still ambitious and would “like to be in the Premier League again, however that might be”.

Most bookies have McCarthy as the third favourite for the position left by Remi Garde by mutual consent earlier in the week behind David Moyes and Nigel Pearson, priced as low as 3-1 by one company.

Premier League table-proppers Villa look certain to drop into the Championship but would be expected to make a swift return to the top flight.

The Town boss, who signed a new contract until the summer of 2018 earlier in the season, says it’s flattering to get mentioned and that it is an indication of how his time with the Blues is viewed more widely.

“It’s interesting, isn’t it?” he said. “Maybe people who are not involved in the club that you’re at look from the outside and think, ‘Hmm, you know what, maybe he is doing a good job’.

“It’s like when you’ve left and you go back. I think I’ll get a pretty good reception at Wolves when I go back on Saturday because I usually do.

“So, it’s always interesting when people mention your name. But I can’t do anything about it. My focus is here.

“But, by the way, don’t even think I’m not ambitious, don’t think I’m settled here and I want to just be here doing what I’m doing and trying to get in the play-offs, I’d like to get promoted, I’d like to be in the Premier League again, however that might be. But my focus is doing this.

“But it is flattering, if the remit is for somebody that can get teams promoted, then I’ve got a pretty good CV for that, haven’t I?”

However, asked whether it was worth putting money on him moving to Villa with one of those bookies he joked that the only one he'll be going to will be his holiday home.

“No, not unless it’s in Portugal, because I might go to that one shortly!” he laughed.

Quizzed further on whether he was ruling himself out of the running, he added: “I’m going to Wolves, me, on Friday. I want to win, that’s what I want to do.”

Photo: Action Images

Steelmonkey added 10:08 - Apr 1 Thanks for getting us out of a hole MM, but it does not look like you can take us any further. Or is it a case that results have gone wrong for us because the majority of players might find themselves out of a job because they wouldn't cut it in the premiership. Here come the minuses for voicing that thought.
3

SJB90_ITFC added 10:12 - Apr 1 I agree Currie10. People don't understand Mick is a results man. If Mick could win every game 1-0 and have a pass completion rate of 10% he'd take it.
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cornishblu added 10:12 - Apr 1 Currie10.....soon be time for school again ,.....incredibly daft comments ...sure we would play better football....that's the point isn't it .....no one is complaining about the points we've got its the horrendous style of football that goes with it , driving fans away and making us a very unattractive club to come to this circle of events will ,,....and is becoming our undoing ..wake up and smell the coffee. ...or in your case the fruitshoot COYB

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carlo88 added 10:18 - Apr 1 I used to look at the Wolves forums after he left there and they were very split after he left, some of them said he was the best manager they'd ever seen and some the opposite. Some of the comments on here are daft though. I like Mick, most of all I like the fact that even after a bad run it won't deteriorate into the kind of debacles we witnessed with the previous two managers.

3

goat_man added 10:23 - Apr 1 God some of you are pathetic. If McCarthy goes, who will replace him? Another Keane or Jewell? How many managers in this division can you think of that would have got the results Mick has given our budget? I know the style of play can be tiresome under McCarthy, but we've got to face facts that the players who can play passing football effectively we can neither afford, nor will want to join us due to being just a medium size fish in this division. Reality check please

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AbujaBlue added 10:34 - Apr 1 Carlo88, I think if you look at the forum here then there is a much more rational approach to MM and the majority recognise the good job that he has done. The news comment section always seems to attract an odd minority. What baffles me the most is how some people here manage to take offense at MM's style of talking in press conferences in relation to job rumours. How long has he been manager and how long has he been responding in the exact same manner? Remember the Ireland job rumours? Can the man be flattered without stirring a hornet's nest on here? Who really cares.

0

Langdon_Blue added 10:45 - Apr 1 Can't blame him for seeing the Villa job as a better chance of promotion then here. He'll get the financial backing he needs to push for a serious effort to go up, rather than given peanuts to find potential stars in the non league and abroad. His signings and loans here have for the most part been fantastic. Obviously with risk comes some players that don't work out, but at Villa he'll not need to take the same risks. If he walks he'll also take with him our best players and we'll go back to heading where we were before McCarthy arrived. Downwards.

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Guthrum added 10:55 - Apr 1 I'm not convinced that Villa do stand a great chance of going straight back up. By a long way the poorest team in the Prem, they're far further adrift than any team which has been relegated in recent seasons. And we can see from the clubs which have come down, the bottom end of the Prem is not really any better than the top of the Championship - who since Newcastle has walked our division the next season after being relegated?

6

whizzkid added 10:55 - Apr 1 Dear Mick, Hope this helps. http://www.thetrainline-europe.com/train/ipswich-to-birmingham-new-street~700121 lots of love, Fans wot want to see proper footy again.
1

Nazemariner added 11:02 - Apr 1 Honest comments from MM as per usual. It is clear that the Villa job appeals to him, but then they are a big club, so why wouldn't it. He gets an unfair amount of criticism from Town fans, who wrongly feel that things would improve if MM were to leave, and despite his suggestions that he pays little attention to the "keyboard warriors" he will be only to aware of the ill feelings many have towards his management style. Too many of our fans have been brainwashed by the Sky Sports Premier League Carnival, and wrongly believe that we should be able to knock the ball around like Arsenal, whilst serving up success at the same time. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Mick gets the best out of the players he has at his disposal, by playing an efficient style of football. He will continue to do this, and will continue to give us a moderate level of success by doing so. Be grateful for what we have, rather than pining for what we don't have. Stick by Mick! I have news for you all.......

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BackTheBlues added 11:04 - Apr 1 Lunatics - people that think things will be better without Mick with an owner who spends no money!
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PortmanTerrorist added 11:12 - Apr 1 Whilst I would never personally disrespect our manager I have no problem with any genuine supporter (and most on this form are) that does. The desperately poor quality of football we have endured leaves him wide open to that, and to fans (not me or my family) booing at half/full time in order to get the message across that they are completely dissatisfied. How else can they get their message across. If Mick leaves at least we might get to the truth as to ME's ambitions for the Club. Maybe Mick does not know either and he can maybe use this as a way to find out. 2 winter windows where some ambition and not too much cash could have seen us kick on, but chose not to. Business folks take chances, it is how they got successful, so why not play a winning hand....2 years on the trot ? Something not right at the core of the Club and we just need some transparency please.

8

Nazemariner added 11:15 - Apr 1 I don't have any news for you btw
2

joepublic added 11:31 - Apr 1 Regardless of the budget MM has, he will always adopt a cautious negative approach with the long ball and throw his preferred choice of football. This combined with the disconnect between club and fans makes following Town hard work at the moment. Therefore I can easily see how fans will read his comments in this article and wish him well at Villa. #Football+Grass=Happy

3

SohoBlue added 11:52 - Apr 1 Berra, Skuse and Sears would be on his radar for sure. Would make the Birmingham Derby interesting... I think the silent majority would vote for the #Mickstay campaign... We need an injury free run-in, a crack at the play-offs (losing the final?), and hold on to a Pringle and Feaney for next season. Fraser isn't going to be here after all... Drop some journeymen over summer and omelet season to do it for Mick in my opinion. If not, I think we'll all have to was far as we can. So come on Mick, let's see you and TC give it one last 12 month push, and give us something to enjoy at the end of this long, hard campaign..!

0

SohoBlue added 11:54 - Apr 1 Omelet? Haha. Autoincorrect. You get the gist...
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TimmyH added 12:27 - Apr 1 Why on earth would Villa won't Mick as manager nex season ?...after what they've been through. He 'might' do a job for them but by god it'll be dull stuff for their supporters. One thing for sure they're not going to lack and that is money something MM has been devoid off. Has to be stronger candidates out there.
3

runningout added 12:33 - Apr 1 MM is still a very good manager, and will be wanted.. a few of our squad have been weak in the head... Should MM leave, I hope his replacement can spot the weak links like we can
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geminimustang added 12:39 - Apr 1 Mick could well be playing call my bluff,Mr Evans.Give me the funds to do the job or i'll find a club that will.I'm with MM & TC,they've gone a great job with enough funds to buy a house not build a football team capable of promotion.MM ain't perfect,he just happens to be the best manager available for ITFC with the lack of money available.Nobody else would accept the financial constraints placed upon him with the expectations of the Supporters now through the roof.New Manager,no money,promotion? No chance.Maybe better style of football? Maybe relegation?Be careful what you wish for!

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jas0999 added 12:41 - Apr 1 Of course he is interested. He knows it will be a miracle if we get promoted on a league one transfer budget. He also probably knows that there will be a limited budget next season. Villa will be better placed to go up.
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Gcon added 13:16 - Apr 1 Well said ITFCcharmer & Currie10. It is the owner that needs seriously questioning right now. With zero funds and a ghost-like presence from the owner ITFC is a deeply unattractive manger's job that is unlikely to appeal to anybody of Mick's calibre again. If Mick goes and the ITFC ownership status quo remains this club is doomed. With our thin squad and a remote, unambitious owner MM & TC are our only real assets at this point. Admittedly the football has been awful recently but when have had our full squad we have played some good football and competed with the best.There's only so far he can go relying on team spirit and instilling belief in his players.

4

bluey123 added 14:07 - Apr 1 Currie10 no one says he didn't do a good job saving us but over the last season he has done nothing apart from driving thousands of football fans away as can be seen at the games recently. He should walk away now or he should be sacked for sending out such garbage week in week out McCarthy OUT
3

Taricco_Fan added 14:11 - Apr 1 He 'saved' the club, stabilised it, and over-achieved with a poor squad of players last year, but despite that I would still rather take a chance on a new manager. Mick is a safe pair of hands but the football on display is nothing short of appalling. Coupled with stubborn team selections and tactical shortcomings, I don't believe Mick is the muan to take us forward. Good football need not cost money as Portsmouth capably demonstrated to us. Lack of funds is a handy scapegoat for a manager with no intention to play it.

6

Taricco_Fan added 14:12 - Apr 1 *man to take us forward.
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TimmyH added 14:21 - Apr 1 I believe the idea that if Mick and TC go we're doomed is just a tad over the top...too many people harping back to 4 years or so ago when we were at a 50 year low and if Mick was to go we'd be straight back there with more or less the same players/squad is a bit ridiculous and a bit negative thinking. Yes Mick was absolutely the right man to get in, got us organised more difficult to beat ad threw out the garbage hanger-on players trying to get a decent final pay cheque, basically he's done fairly well since he's been here on such a limited budget but personally feel last season's 6th spot will behe ghlight of his stay here. The BIG question is that are the failures of this season down to ME or Mick, a bit of both I fancy - spin from the board about Mings money going towards the squad which never materialised and lack of transfer window investment again in January when Injuries were aplenty. Mick sticks with an ever present back line that is slowly getting worse and muddles around with a midfield and hasn't a clue what players to start and add to that some fairly poor summer signings that just haven't 'come off' there's joint calpability between the owner and manager in my view. Not a disastorous season bearing some of the injuries but certainly not a progressive one and considering the tiring style Mick brings to the pitch coupled with the time we've been in this league I can fully understand some fans frustrations. If Mick was to go would it be disastrous? no I don't think so considering some of the players we have, some which need to go to league 1...a manager like Gary Monk, Pearson or even Sherwood would bring a bright Horizon.

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