x

McCarthy Not Concerned By Contract Situation - Ipswich Town News

Manager Mick McCarthy says he’s comfortable with the current contract situation at the club, despite the likes of Lee Martin and Andy Drury being on terms which are up at the end of the season. In total 11 players are on deals which only stretch as far as the end of next June.

McCarthy says offering contracts at this stage of the season isn’t always a good idea: "I have a bit of a problem with going around and offering people contracts. It can have a good effect or it can have a negative effect.

"When somebody signs a nice two or three-year deal I’ve had it where they don’t kick a ball then until about March. That’s no good to me.

"I’m cool with what’s going on at the minute. Let everybody fight for their position, let everybody fight for contracts for next season. That’s not concerned me as yet.

"My job is still to keep the team in the league. We’ve had a good start but if you just take your foot off the gas for one moment you find you’ve lost three and you’re back in that bottom three, and that’s what I don’t want to happen.

"My focus will be on the games, [as well as] with the long-term, looking what’s going to be here, what might not be here, what will change, what won’t change. But my focus is on Millwall.”

In terms of Town’s loan players, he says he began trying to establish their longer term situations as soon as he was appointed: "When I walked in the door I started trying to get hold of people and seeing what their thoughts were.

"But I kind of know what their thoughts are — they’ll wait and see, let’s wait and see what January brings.

"They’re all on short-term deals with recalls for one reason, that if they need them they’ll call them back. If they don’t, we can discuss something.”

Keeper Stephen Henderson is amongst the six domestic loanees whose loans are up in January — the others are DJ Campbell, Bradley Orr, Tyrone Barnett, Danny Higginbotham and Bilel Mohsni — but McCarthy didn’t want to be drawn on whether he would be looking to extend the Irishman’s stay: "I’m not really bothered about discussing all that because all that does is put it out in the open and all the time there are stories about loan players. He’s playing tomorrow.

"If they want to bring him back, they’ve got a recall on him, so I might as well just concentrate on the next game.

"But he’s done well. He’s played well in the last three games. He made a great save against Nottingham Forest at 1-0. He’s playing well.”

What to read next:

U19s Draw Second Game at Czech Tournament
Town’s U19s were beaten 3-2 by Slovan Bratislava in their second and final group game at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia yesterday.
Town Continue Pre-Season at Aberdeen
Town face Scottish Premiership Aberdeen at Pittodrie in their second public friendly of the summer this evening (KO 7.30pm).
Town Women to Start WSL2 Season at Southampton
Ipswich Town Women will open their first ever second-tier season with a WSL2 away game at Southampton on Saturday 6th September (KO 2pm) with Nottingham Forest the first visitors to the JobServe Community Stadium, the Blues’ new home, the following weekend.
Morsy: The Best Spell of My Career and Life
Departing Town captain Sam Morsy has issued a message to fans, teammates, manager Kieran McKenna and his staff following confirmation of his move to Kuwait SC, while the squad and ex-players have paid their own tributes to the Egyptian international.
Town Confirm Morsy Exit For Kuwait SC
Town skipper Sam Morsy’s move to Kuwait SC has been confirmed.
Town Announce Matchday Ticket Prices
Town have confirmed their matchday ticket prices for the Championship season ahead.
Luongo Close to Joining Millwall
Former Blues midfielder Massimo Luongo is closing in on joining Millwall following his trial with the Lions.
Eze Nets Twice as U19s Draw Opener at Czech Tournament
Striker Nelson Eze scored twice as an U19 Town side drew 2-2 with hosts Banik Ostrava in their opening match at the Zlaty Kahan tournament in Czechia yesterday.
Young: Working With McKenna Again Was a Massive Pull
New Blues signing Ashley Young says manager Kieran McKenna played a big part in his decision to join Town having left Everton at the end of last season.
Town Confirm Young Signing
Town have confirmed the signing of veteran former England international Ashley Young on a one-year deal.