“Hands off,” is Town managing director Ian Milne’s message to other clubs who might be interested in trying to recruit manager Mick McCarthy this summer. Championship strugglers Fulham have been linked with the Blues boss on several occasions, but Milne says the club are yet to receive any approach.
"I’ve heard nothing, of no approach to the club with regard to that,” he told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch on Saturday (from 1hr 11mins).
"Yes, I’ve seen the speculation, I’ve heard nothing from Mick on it and he’s a very honest, loyal person and so there’s nothing at the moment.
"As I say, he remains very loyal to Ipswich and wants to get us up. He signed a three-year deal last summer, so a year’s gone on that and as far as I’m concerned he’s very happy here with the team he’s built up.”
Milne agreed that it would be little surprise if other clubs showed interest in McCarthy, 56, after Town’s impressive season.
"Successful managers like that will be sought after. Aaron Cresswell came to the darts evening last week and said they’re all very happy with Sam Allardyce [at West Ham] but they’re all concerned what’s going to happen after the next seven matches.
"There aren’t that many good managers out there. Mick, Sam Allardyce, who we were talking about, I suppose the last best manager to move was Tony Pulis. I’m sure some people would disagree with me on that, but there aren’t that many good managers and we need to keep hold of him.”
Milne’s message to clubs who might be eyeing McCarthy? "Hands off, but at the end of the day, we don’t know what’s in people’s heads, what they want to do and their ambitions, but at this moment in time Mick is remaining very loyal to us.”
Meanwhile, with the extended early bird deadline having passed on Friday, the Blues MD says season ticket sales have been "buoyant” with revenue up "eight or nine per cent” on this stage last year and sales at more than 12,500, an increase of around 1,000 on a year ago.