Recent debutant Barry Cotter says he wanted to stay at Town as soon as he walked into the club on trial a few weeks before he signed from Limerick on the final day of the January transfer window. The 19-year-old has also paid tribute to the man who gave him his memorable debut against Barnsley, former manager Mick McCarthy, as well as his assistant Terry Connor.
Republic of Ireland U19 international Cotter, who is contracted to the Blues until 2021 with Town having an option for a further year, played the first 54 minutes of the 1-0 victory over the Tykes and, having been an unused sub at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, could return to the team when Aston Villa visit Portman Road on Saturday.
"They weren’t the first English club that was interested. I had trials at West Brom, Everton and Sunderland,” writes Cotter in a lengthy piece for The Sports Chronicle, in which he reveals Villa and Everton also showed interest during his time with Limerick.
"Myself and Chiedozie Ogbene [also then with Limerick] went to Brentford the same week we were at Ipswich. Chiedozie eventually signed for them but as soon as I walked into Ipswich I wanted to stay.
"The reason? That’s easy. Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor. Those initial two days felt like months in terms of what I learned from the gaffer and TC.
"Mick will always be the manager who gave me my debut in English football. Words can’t describe my feelings during the 1-0 win over Barnsley. Just the supporters’ reaction and going down to the North Stand afterwards. It was the best day of my life so far.
"The club are struggling with injuries so I felt there was a chance, so I stayed mentally sharp. No one knew it would be the gaffer’s last game.
"An hour before kick-off he told me I would be starting. ‘Go and enjoy it,’ was all he said. So that's what I did. Just went out and expressed myself.”
Cotter says he’ll remain eternally grateful to McCarthy, who dramatically left the club following the Barnsley match.
"I will always get to call Mick McCarthy gaffer,” he added. "It was a pleasure working alongside an Irish football legend and TC.
"They did nothing but look after me. The best example of this is taking me off that night against Barnsley because they knew I was knackered and could blow a gasket. They wanted to protect me.
"I’d play for them any time. It’s just the way both men explained everything so I understood it the first time. Mick is such a gentleman, never gets ahead of himself, treats everybody the same and he’s so smart.”