Mick McCarthy admits that like all managers he’d love to have more cash to spend but says that he’s realistic and deals with whatever budget he is handed. Various reports in recent weeks have claimed that the Blues boss is frustrated by the lack of funds available as he looks to strengthen for the campaign ahead.
McCarthy says even the most well-heeled of managers still push for more cash: "I remember Mancini at Manchester City having spent how many hundreds of millions and wasn’t happy with what he was getting. There’s always somebody that wants more.
"I’m of the feeling, I’m of that school, that whatever hand you get dealt, no matter what it is, then you crack on with it and do the best you can with it. And that’s always going to be the same with me.”
He believes that the Blues are amongst the sides to have made most progress in the transfer market during the early stages of the summer: "The Financial Fair Play that’s coming in to the Championship is certainly causing everybody problems. I haven’t seen anybody do anything of any great significance yet.
"I’ve heard lots of stories about who’s doing this, who is doing what, who’s paying this, who’s paying what, and I think we’ve done as much as anybody in terms of signing David McGoldrick, Jay Tabb, Daryl Murphy and Cole Skuse.
"All right, aside from Cole, they were here, but we’ve re-signed them and I’m delighted. From that point of view, already we’ve done as much as anybody has.
"We’ve got the good nucleus of the team from last year as well. So, of course we do [want more money to spend], but I think everybody puts too much emphasis on it.
"Everybody who spends wants some more to spend and, let me tell you, there’s one way to get shot of it and that’s giving it to footballers and footballers’ agents, and managers as we’ll all take it!”
He says he knows what his budget is and will be dealing with the situation accordingly: "I know what it is and we get on with it.”
He believes that’s an approach a lot of players ought to be taking with plenty of them currently without clubs and with their agents asking for wages which are unrealistic as clubs adjust to Financial Fair Play: "[That’s the situation] everywhere [not just here].
"There was a time when ‘the Bosman’ was the pot of gold, but that’s [now] not the case. There’ll be some teams that’ll do it and there’ll be some players where you want to push the boat out and get them and sign them, and I’m sure at different places they’ll do it.
"But if there is a budget, that’s what it is. If there is a budget, adhere to it, get on with it, get the best team you can, coach them, manage them and get every last drop out of them, get the best out of them.
"Because of players’ expectations, there’ll be some not [finding clubs]. There’s lots not gone back today. There might be some, there might be a lot at the start of the season who have still not got jobs.”
McCarthy enjoyed his break away from the club despite never being fully off duty during that period: "I had a good holiday and a good break and if I needed to answer the phone, I answered the phone.
"My view is that with a mobile phone I’d rather be doing it sitting on the beach than in the office in Ipswich or anywhere else for that matter. A couple of phone calls while I’m sat in the sunshine is no hardship at all.
"I’ve enjoyed my holiday, but I have to be honest, in the last week I’ve been looking forward to coming back.
"I came back on Monday, that was my first day in just to make sure everything was OK and prepared for this week and I got the bit between my teeth then really. I wanted to come back.
"But I go away on my holiday and I enjoy it. I enjoy the break, but I’m still working because I’m on my phone and speaking to people. But I was really looking to coming back today.”