Mick McCarthy says Town fans’ view of him and the budget provided by owner Marcus Evans will come into his thinking when he considers whether to continue as Blues boss in the summer.
The 58-year-old, who celebrates his 25th anniversary as a manager next month, has no intention of retiring and is still targeting a return to the Premier League, either with Town or his next club, but during the Blues’ struggles last month and while on the receiving end of flak from supporters said he would "make a decision on what I want to do” at the end of the season.
Since then McCarthy’s standing with fans has improved with the Blues picking up impressive draws with Championship high flyers Brighton, Leeds and Reading and inflicting Aston Villa’s first home defeat of the season.
A first derby win over Norwich City in nearly eight years at Carrow Road today would significantly further enhance McCarthy’s reputation among supporters.
He says his thinking currently remains the same, although he points out he is contracted until the summer of 2018 with the club having an option for a further two seasons.
"I’ve got a year’s contract to run so I can’t just up sticks and go anywhere else,” McCarthy said.
"I love doing this job and I give everything to it. I just wondered if the fans were getting tired of me.
"Me turning up next season going ‘Hello’ and they all go ‘F–- off, we don’t want you’ — that’s not going to be any good is it?”
Two years ago Town reached the play-offs, then last year they finished seventh, despite having a budget which is around 16th in the Championship.
However, the Blues, who go into today’s East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Carrow Road in 15th in the division, have never looked like challenging this year and McCarthy says he will speak with owner Marcus Evans as he assesses his future in the summer.
He added: "I am not happy where we are. I want to be more competitive. I am not happy being mid-table and thinking there is no pressure.
"If anybody thinks ‘Oh, he’s on a nice little number down there, mid-table, it doesn’t really matter’ that is far from the truth.
"I want to know what we’re going to do, I want to know what the budget will be, I want to know if we can be competitive.
"And I want to know that if I’m going to be here the club is going to be happy with that. I’m still very ambitious. It burns brightly and I’d like to be back in the Premier League.
"It’s not going to happen this season and it might never happen again — but it won’t stop me wanting it.”