Former boss Mick McCarthy says he is sad the Blues have been relegated but in a spiky riposte to his detractors hopes that the fans that he says hounded him out "enjoy watching the sexy football in the first division”.
McCarthy, 60, left Portman Road a year ago this month, his relationship with fans having deteriorated markedly during the final two years of his five and a half at the club, culminating in a fractious afternoon at Brentford when he was advised by police to leave Griffin Park via a back exit.
"I was doing a good job there,” McCarthy, now back in charge of the Republic of Ireland, told Balls.ie when asked about Town’s drop into League One.
"My job is to win games and [to] stay in that league was my remit, and that's what I continued to do.
"I'm sad that they've gone down. Some of the lads are taking huge cuts in wages who were with me and who were brilliant for me.
"The staff, I've no doubt people will be losing their jobs because of it so that's going to be sad. It's a great club and pretty much most of their fans were brilliant with me.
"The ones that hounded me out, I hope they enjoy watching the sexy football in the first division [sic].”