Town managing director Ian Milne says the search for a successor to departing boss Mick McCarthy is well under way but has asked for patience as Blues owner Marcus Evans finds the right man for the job.

McCarthy met with Evans on Wednesday when they agreed that the current Town manager will move on when his contract comes to an end in the summer, the club announcing his impending exit, along with that of assistant Terry Connor, the following morning.

“They made the decision between them to go their own way,” Milne told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch on Monday prior to the Millwall match. “Mick’s going to see out his contract and that’s the way it is.

“At the moment we can’t comment on these issues, refer to the recent press release we sent out [on Thursday]. There will be future announcements as and when they become available.

“In the meantime we have a number of matches to play before the end of the season, so let’s get behind the club, the manager and the team, that’s very important.

“These are important decisions for the club and we need time so fans have to be patient with us. We’ll come out as soon as we can with the right announcements. I’m sure the majority of fans will understand our position on this.”

Milne agreed that the appointment is one of the most important of Evans’s 10 years at Town.

“It is. It’s a case of who’s available,” he added. “It is important for the club and for all of us to here to make the right decisions and we’ve got to give him time to make those decisions.”

He says the search is well and truly on - “Yes, it is” - but wouldn’t be drawn into outlining a precise timetable and whether the identity of the new man will be made public before the end of the season or in the summer.

“It all depends on how the search goes,” Milne continued. “[Marcus] wants to make a decision as soon as he possibly can.

“That’s all I can say at the moment because it’s a search like any other search. When you’re looking somebody you want to get the right person and it’s a case of making the right decision, something not to be rushed.”

When Evans has made previous managerial appointments he has sought advice from figures throughout the game, Harry Redknapp famously among them, and Milne expects he will similarly be sounding people out this time around.

“I’m sure he’s talking to all his footballing friends, acquaintances, agents and what have you,” he said.

Will senior Town figures such as George Burley - who was in the directors’ box yesterday - and Terry Butcher be among those he speaks to?

“I can’t say precisely who he’s going to talk to, I don’t know all his list of contacts,” the MD continued. “But I think anybody he feels is relevant who can give some ideas.”

Asked whether the new man might be handed an increased budget following his appointment, Milne said: “We’ve got to wait for Marcus’s announcement on that and the future strategy going forward.”

Milne confirmed that Evans, who we understand is currently on holiday in Barbados, is set to do an on-camera interview with the club’s iFollow service, the first time the Blues’ owner will have made a public appearance since taking over at Town just over a decade ago.

“He’s promised to do that, that was in the announcement, so I wait with interest on that as well,” he said.

Does that interview indicate that Evans will have more of a public profile in the future? “I’m sure he’s going to spell that out in the strategy going forward.”

Quizzed on the decision to keep McCarthy in charge for the final eight games rather than appointing a caretaker-boss, Milne said: “All I can say is that there were discussions between Mick and Marcus and that was the decision they came to. I don’t know any more than that.”

He added: “It’s business as usual to the end of his contract and, including myself, we have to be patient.”

Milne says the aim will be to appoint a unifying figure after a fractious couple of years under McCarthy.

“We don’t want anybody to be a disunifying person,” he added. “Going back to the matches for the rest of the season, I think we owe it to the players to get behind them, they work very, very hard week in, week out and they’re going to be very professional in that and I think we should all give them our backing and continue to do so.

“We’ve got a great skipper in Luke Chambers and we’ve got to help him as much as possible, get behind him.”

Prior to the announcement that McCarthy would be leaving, the club revealed that season ticket prices would drop by 10 per cent for 2018/19, a move Milne says has received a positive response.

“I’ve had a lot of good feedback about the 10 per cent reduction,” he said. “[Fans] have said that’s fine, no grumbles at all about it, which is great, but they want to know where the club’s going in the future.”

Ideally the identity of the new manager will be known before the early bird deadline on April 30th but Milne says that won’t necessarily be the case as the most important thing is to get the appointment right.

“Marcus put in his announcement that that’s his intention, to try to get that announcement out. Bear with us,” he said.

“I don’t know if he’s going to name any successor [by that date] but I do believe there might be more on that announcement, we’ll have to wait and see. He’ll be coming out with it either before the early bird or after. It’s a search and you don’t want to rush it.”

You can listen to the full interview with Milne here.

Photo: TWTD

runningout added 16:21 - Apr 3 Cook will want to get Wigan in the Championship and stay there. Too many names being banded about and for some reason I reckon they are all dodgy. Can't see big funds being given to a new manager. So I'm not optimistic who we'll end up with.
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dugoutdave added 16:28 - Apr 3 Running out -- good name based on your post !! lol
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ashp19 added 17:16 - Apr 3 better outward content coming from up the food chain - I feel the pennies (hopefully pounds in the close season) are starting to drop.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:37 - Apr 3 sorry have read the statement,not the posts yet, no fan of Milne but glad they are not rushing blind folded, it is a serious situation. A BIG NAME FAILURE IS NOT GOING TO SORT IT OUIT. a caretaker till end of season is the best way .
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armchaircritic59 added 17:52 - Apr 3 If i was ME, i would not be listening to the likes of Harry Redknapp. One of yesterdays men and out of touch with the modern game. Please, no faces from the old managerial merry go round. I've posted elsewhere on the site, my choices would be either Maurice Steijn, currently of VVV-Venlo (first choice), doing a great job in Holland, or John Coleman of Accrington Stanley. Not a youngster, but performing minor miracles there, on league two's joint lowest budget (along with Morecombe). Plays the game the "right way" too.

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Seasider added 17:53 - Apr 3 I said to my mate whilst listening to Mr Milnes interview,that he was just waffling;not really saying anything of note.I have noticed this before. My mate calls him 'Parrot';but this bird repeats things it hears,and I wonder if our MD often speaks with the owner,as he doesn't seem to know much more than me,or if he does he isn't saying. Would make a good MP !!! As is so often the case Mr Evans is a long way from PR, across the ocean currently on holiday.Picked a good time hasn't he ?Lets hope he is not incognito,as he often is,because not announcing a replacement before the 'Early Bird' deadline as promised will make a lot of people not renew,or take out new Season Tickets,without knowing who is coming in.

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hollywoodginge added 18:05 - Apr 3 I've just seen Gerry Francis in Aldi on felixstowe road....
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jas0999 added 18:26 - Apr 3 Can't understand the decision to keep MM on until the end of the season. Hopefully the new man will be appointed sooner rather than later.
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barrystedmunds added 18:35 - Apr 3 I hold little confidence in the next appointment. Let's face it, ME has a pretty sh&@te record in this field! You could argue Monotonous Mick was he's only “success” in that we avoided almost certain relegation. So I'll not hold my breath especially when Mclaren and Pardew are allegedly in the mix!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 19:15 - Apr 3 Well having seen the West Brom shortlist I'm rather more positive. Potter was the only name there that stood out
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black_shuck added 19:22 - Apr 3 Does anyone know anything about Milne? Is he qualified in anything? Has he ever had another job? What has he ever done to be the ME of ITFC??
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Northstandveteran added 19:38 - Apr 3 Yes cat I am feeling positive 😁 I also think ( myself included ) that many on here have been slightly harsh towards the owners, albeit because of the teams performances over the last two seasons. I thought Keane was a great appointment. It didn't work. Jewell, at the time, seemed the logical way forward with his previous success in this division. It didn't work. Sometimes things don't, players, managers at New clubs, a new job, a relationship. Not always going to go as well as previously. McCarthy proved to be the correct man at the time by saving us from the drop. Unfortunately as he said, his Ipswich career had come to a natural end (although personally think he should have left after the Lincoln games ) Regarding the state of the pitch and the ground, perhaps all concerned have been despondent. I know if I'd thrown tens of millions of pounds at something and it hadn't improved, I'd lose interest. A successful manager not only improves the team and results but positivity around the club. I am sure that when I return pre season, having had all summer to rectify the problems, the pitch and stadium will look tip top. And apart from the occasional silly comment by certain individuals, the posters on here seem to have mellowed out a little. Hoping the fans can again come together and watch entertaining, winning football in a vibrant, modern, well kept stadium. Blimey.....next I'll be teaching the world to sing........! 😂

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Northstandveteran added 19:39 - Apr 3 Orange Army!
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brittaniaman added 19:58 - Apr 3 Milne might as well said from the questions asked, No Comment, No Comment, No Comment.
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Gcon added 20:20 - Apr 3 Alan Pardew is now the bookies favourite....Jesus.
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hollywoodginge added 20:23 - Apr 3 Gcon- depends which Bookies you look at.
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norfolkbluey added 20:50 - Apr 3 All my dreams have come true. MM is finally going. His going has been in my thoughts for the last 4 years when I gave up my season ticket. His style of football leaves me feeling sick in the stomach. I just hope he leaves asap and they hand the ropes over to the youth team coach where the young players get a chance to show their metal. The club has some potentially good young players and with safety now certain its time to see their likes given a chance alongside older heads. One word of caution, please no old has beens in the running like the failures being touted such as McClaren and Pardew Pleeeeeeese!

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dirtydingusmagee added 20:55 - Apr 3 I dont often agree with Gcon, but Pardew being favourite is worrying, if true , him and'' the rain man'', please no, not even in jest .
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Gcon added 20:58 - Apr 3 Not really, Hollywoodginge. Many bookies have stopped taking bets but he's now 6/4 generally, or 13/8
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pragmatic added 21:08 - Apr 3 How many guessed Keane/Jewell/ Mcarthy? Names mentioned so far could be wide of the mark.
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lightingblue added 21:11 - Apr 3 How about Kevin Keegan!!!
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ITFCsince73 added 21:26 - Apr 3 How about anyone but Pardew...
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black_shuck added 21:33 - Apr 3 Pardew would be another in following ME's approach of rewarding failure
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toxtethblue added 21:49 - Apr 3 Pardew is now the favourite. Please god no...
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MooseJuice added 22:27 - Apr 3 Evans... I don't know who's advising you but surely you're not genuinely considering Alan Pardew?!?! You've already got record-low attendances, the stadium would be empty with this guy! You've made bad appointments in the past but this would clearly show you have absolutely no clue what you're doing with our football club!
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