Town boss Mick McCarthy says there’s a “good chance” he’ll still be at Portman Road next season but is yet to make a decision on his future.
McCarthy, who turned 59 on Tuesday, is out of contract at the end of the season, although with the club having an option to keep him for two further campaigns.
The Blues boss says he is planning for next season, looking at players and setting up the pre-season programme, but says that doesn’t necessarily mean he will still be at the club, although says there’s a strong possibility he will.
"Not with some certainty but I can say there’s a chance I’ll be here, yes,” he said. "There’s a good chance I’ll be here, if [owner] Marcus [Evans] wants [me to be] if we can come to terms with it.
"I enjoy doing what I’m doing. I’ve no great desire to leave, but I’ve always said, it could be my decision, it could be the club’s decision. Until we get together, I’m sure we’ll be able to meet and then we’ll see.”
Asked whether that should suggest he’s already made his decision, he responded: "No, not at all.”
He says his future is still up in the air as things stand: "Yes. But my job’s not. I could go, ‘I’m not sure what I’m doing, I’ll won’t look at players and I won’t bother with looking at loans and transfers’.
"I could do, but that’s never going to happen and whether I was [going to be here next year] or not, even if I’d made my mind up I’d still keep doing that job and planning for next season because I’m the manager, I’ve got to do it. But that’s not the case, it’s still open.”
Last season McCarthy pondered whether fans have got bored of him, his spell at Portman Road having started in November 2012 almost six years ago now. Is he not bored of those fans? Might a change benefit all concerned?
"What do you think?” he retorted. "That I’m entitled to make my decision? And I will! You say you’re happy for me to make my decision, and I will.
"Have I made a decision yet? No I haven’t. I’ve said that and the more I talk about it that’s not going to make me say anything else. I haven’t. I’ve had a chat to Marcus and that’s just ongoing.”