Caretaker-manager Ian McParland says he has spoken to new boss Paul Jewell but is yet to discover whether he has a future at Town. The 49-year-old expects to leave Portman Road when Jewell formally takes over on Thursday and hopes to get a management job of his own.
McParland says he can fully understand that the new man will want to bring in his own staff: "I’ve been in the football world a long time, I’ve known Paul Jewell over the years, I played against him years ago.
"As long as I’m treated in the right manner, which he will do, and they sort everything out that should be sorted out, then that’s fine. I’ll have no hard feelings towards Paul Jewell.
"If I go back into a club as a manager, I’ll probably bring my own people in as well. It’s nothing personal.”
McParland, who will take charge of Town for tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final against Arsenal, says Jewell hasn’t as yet told him of his plans: "I spoke to him on the phone on Monday but there was no indication that he was bringing people in [as soon as Thursday].
"There was an indication that he would be bringing people in, but I don’t know who. We’ll see what happens after the game. I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
If he is offered the chance to stay, the former Notts County boss wouldn’t rule it out, although he wants to be in charge of a club himself: "I’d consider everything, but I’d like to be a manager again. We’ll see what happens.”
Jewell's regular assistant Chris Hutchings is available having been sacked as Walsall boss earlier this month, while newspaper reports over the weekend linked West Ham coach Wally Downes.
McParland says he is looking forward to tonight’s game and his advice to his players is to make sure they do the same and to give their best: "I’ll enjoy the occasion and the main thing is that the boys enjoy the occasion and give a good account of themselves.”
Meanwhile, a number of tabloid reports claim Gary Megson turned down the chance to manage the Blues having been flown to Ireland to meet with Marcus Evans last Tuesday.
Megson was reportedly offered an annual salary of up to £500,000 and a two and a half year deal. However, the proposed deal fell through as the former Canary wanted to bring in a backroom staff of five coaches and scouts.
Elsewhere, reported Town target Mikele Leigertwood has agreed to extend his loan at Reading from QPR until the end of the season.