| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town†- article in Sunday Times tomorrow 23:41 - Mar 24 with 11072 views | ElderGrizzly |
When Roy Keane was manager at Ipswich Town he attended a black-tie event organised by a local school where somebody struck up a conversation with him, or tried to, about British politics. Keane didn’t fancy it and thought “is there a new coalition government? Did you watch Barcelona last night?”
Football has its place in East Anglia, but wouldn’t be the obsession it is in Manchester, to where Keane quickly returned, after experiencing a culture shock in Ipswich. The town’s reputation as a sleepy place took something of a battering during Keane’s time, but it has returned to a state of drowsiness in recent years.
More specifically, those switched off by the stagnation at the football club – they are now in their 16th successive year in the Championship – are more likely simply to stop going than register any form of more visible protest that might be seen at a less genteel club such as, say, West Ham United. This explains why the attendance of 13,031 for Tuesday night’s 3-0 home defeat by Hull City was the lowest league gate at Portman Road since September 1998.
There was perhaps a more unfortunate record, as for the first time in the club’s history it was the fifth successive home game in which Ipswich failed to score a goal. Those supporters who are still turning up blame one man more than any other, Mick McCarthy, who it is thought will have talks with the owner Marcus Evans once the Bristol City game is out of the way on Saturday and the international break kicks in.
The manager held an impromptu team meeting on the Portman Road pitch after Tuesday night’s humiliating defeat, with a knot of supporters remaining until he had finished to resume the anti-McCarthy chanting that had been heard throughout the game. McCarthy was reported to be wagging his finger in disapproval at the players but said afterwards: “When I was on the pitch at the end I said to them I was sorry because it’s my presence that caused that atmosphere.”
This adds to a mounting body of evidence that McCarthy’s tenure as the longest-serving manager in the Championship – he was appointed on November 1, 2012 – will shortly be coming to an end. His contract expires in the summer and there are no signs that it will be renewed, even if he wanted it to be. Ian Milne, the managing director, said at the weekend that season-ticket prices for next season and a decision on McCarthy’s future will “come out together” in the next couple of weeks, and he added: “There’s also probably a change, a letter of intent from the club of what we’re doing in the future and what have you, without going into too much detail.”
Season-ticket sales are important at a club such as Ipswich, where television revenues are relatively low and parachute payments an alien concept. Plenty of those fans who hold season tickets but are staying away will, if the chatter is true, withdraw support should the club signal no change to the status quo.
That business model is largely based on Marcus Evans, the owner, getting his fingers burnt in the transfer market after buying the club ten years ago, firstly when Keane was manager and then during Paul Jewell’s time. When McCarthy took over from Jewell, Ipswich were bottom of the Championship and the owner made it clear that McCarthy wouldn’t be able to spend his way out of the hole. He has had to rely on free transfers and loans despite big money being received for Aaron Cresswell, Tyrone Mings and Daryl Murphy. McCarthy did well to steady the lilting ship and even succeeded in guiding Ipswich to the play-offs in the 2014-15 season, but mid-table mediocrity now appears to be the club’s default position and supporters have clearly had enough.
All the while, local rivals Norwich City have enjoyed plenty of glamorous moments in the Premier League, though the Norfolk club are now helping to prop up Ipswich in the Championship. Parachute payments made to big clubs such as Norwich, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers have made it difficult for Ipswich to compete, but there are still plenty of fans around from the club’s glory years under Bobby Robson for McCarthy to be made the subject of unflattering and unfair comparisons.
It’s not as though Evans has not spent money. Since taking over in December 2007, the acquired debt – owed exclusively to him as 87.5 per cent majority shareholder – has risen from £32 million to £89.26 million, much of it built up during the early years. Ipswich have made an average loss of £6.75 million every financial year since Evans’s arrival, but it could be far worse and McCarthy is believed to be generously rewarded for getting the most out of the meagre resources at his disposal when compared with other clubs who once played in the Premier League and won big trophies.
McCarthy has noted the lack of spending but never complained, which has probably alienated him further from the fans. Now the club appear to be going nowhere and are playing some very ordinary football. Supporters will probably be granted their wish for change, as McCarthy is sensitive to the taunts and criticism despite the rugged exterior. Even before the defeat by Hull he threatened to walk out of his press conference if he was persistently questioned about his future.
The moment of reckoning is probably close at hand, but owner and supporters should be prepared for a bumpier ride once McCarthy leaves. |  | | |  |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:46 - Mar 24 with 7042 views | SitfcB |
They refer to the Bristol City game as if it's coming up? An article from a couple of weeks ago but going in tomorrow's paper? |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:46 - Mar 24 with 7046 views | J2BLUE |
Football has its place in East Anglia, but wouldn’t be the obsession it is in Manchester, to where Keane quickly returned, after experiencing a culture shock in Ipswich.
Really hate this. Such a condescending attitude to anyone outside the Prem. Commentators do it as well - "they love their football in the north-east" as if no one else does. |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:53 - Mar 24 with 6999 views | Superfrans |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:46 - Mar 24 by J2BLUE |
Football has its place in East Anglia, but wouldn’t be the obsession it is in Manchester, to where Keane quickly returned, after experiencing a culture shock in Ipswich.
Really hate this. Such a condescending attitude to anyone outside the Prem. Commentators do it as well - "they love their football in the north-east" as if no one else does. |
Indeed. Condescending nonsense. |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:59 - Mar 24 with 6972 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:46 - Mar 24 by SitfcB |
They refer to the Bristol City game as if it's coming up? An article from a couple of weeks ago but going in tomorrow's paper? |
Yeah, i thought that was odd. Maybe Mick embargoed them! 😂 | | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 00:03 - Mar 25 with 6955 views | SWGF |
I read that a week or two ago? |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 00:06 - Mar 25 with 6936 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 00:03 - Mar 25 by SWGF |
I read that a week or two ago? |
Ooo look at you Marty McFly :) | | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 00:09 - Mar 25 with 6913 views | SWGF |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 00:06 - Mar 25 by ElderGrizzly |
Ooo look at you Marty McFly :) |
I'm no Tom Baker. Just read it when it came out!
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 00:27 - Mar 25 with 6853 views | BrixtonBlue |
Is this bloke a closet budgie?
"Parachute payments made to big clubs such as Norwich..." |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 00:30 - Mar 25 with 6847 views | Ryorry |
"the attendance of 13,031 for Tuesday night’s 3-0 home defeat by Hull City was the lowest league gate at Portman Road since September 1998. "
Does that tally with the club's official figure, anyone know?
" ... a club such as Ipswich, where television revenues are relatively low and parachute payments an alien concept .." 
" ... for getting the most out of the meagre resources at his disposal ..."
Is he? That's the question.
"owner and supporters should be prepared for a bumpier ride once McCarthy leaves."
That's a possibility, not a cast-iron certainty. |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 02:56 - Mar 25 with 6708 views | Kieran_Knows |
Toxic? My word. We couldn’t be any further away from that if we tried.
As I said the other week, you want toxic, just head to Elland Road, St Andrews or The Den when things aren’t going so well. |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 05:35 - Mar 25 with 6617 views | Benters2 |
Its hardly Toxic |  | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 07:03 - Mar 25 with 6541 views | BlueBadger |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:46 - Mar 24 by J2BLUE |
Football has its place in East Anglia, but wouldn’t be the obsession it is in Manchester, to where Keane quickly returned, after experiencing a culture shock in Ipswich.
Really hate this. Such a condescending attitude to anyone outside the Prem. Commentators do it as well - "they love their football in the north-east" as if no one else does. |
Isn't Manchester in the north west?
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 07:18 - Mar 25 with 6521 views | BlueBadger |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 02:56 - Mar 25 by Kieran_Knows |
Toxic? My word. We couldn’t be any further away from that if we tried.
As I said the other week, you want toxic, just head to Elland Road, St Andrews or The Den when things aren’t going so well. |
'Not as bad as Leeds' doesn't mean that it's NOT. Just that it's not as bad as Leeds.
To extend the analogy, just because a chest infection isn't bilateral pneumonia with multi-organ failure and ARDS(google it) doesn't't mean it isn't bad for you. | |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 07:24 - Mar 25 with 6516 views | Benters2 |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 02:56 - Mar 25 by Kieran_Knows |
Toxic? My word. We couldn’t be any further away from that if we tried.
As I said the other week, you want toxic, just head to Elland Road, St Andrews or The Den when things aren’t going so well. |
Joke innit!
Bored sh1tless more like never toxic.
It might get a bit tasty at Brentford though as loads of the old crew are going. | | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:00 - Mar 25 with 6409 views | Swailsey |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 07:24 - Mar 25 by Benters2 |
Joke innit!
Bored sh1tless more like never toxic.
It might get a bit tasty at Brentford though as loads of the old crew are going. |
Oh good. |  |
| Who said: "Colin Healy made Cesc Fabregas look like Colin Healy"? | We miss you TLA |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:12 - Mar 25 with 6353 views | ElderGrizzly |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 00:09 - Mar 25 by SWGF |
I'm no Tom Baker. Just read it when it came out!
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Bizarre they have repeated it! Maybe part of MM’s PR campaign for a new job | | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:26 - Mar 25 with 6253 views | Benters2 |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:00 - Mar 25 by Swailsey |
Oh good. |
Something to look forward too. | | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:30 - Mar 25 with 6223 views | m14_blue |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:46 - Mar 24 by J2BLUE |
Football has its place in East Anglia, but wouldn’t be the obsession it is in Manchester, to where Keane quickly returned, after experiencing a culture shock in Ipswich.
Really hate this. Such a condescending attitude to anyone outside the Prem. Commentators do it as well - "they love their football in the north-east" as if no one else does. |
Load of tosh.
Just because we don't go around punching police horses doesn't mean we don't care about our football. | | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:43 - Mar 25 with 6160 views | blueislander |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 07:24 - Mar 25 by Benters2 |
Joke innit!
Bored sh1tless more like never toxic.
It might get a bit tasty at Brentford though as loads of the old crew are going. |
Difficult to imagine anything more pathetic than a bunch of middle aged men giving it large at a football match. | | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 09:05 - Mar 25 with 6035 views | vapour_trail |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:12 - Mar 25 by ElderGrizzly |
Bizarre they have repeated it! Maybe part of MM’s PR campaign for a new job |
What?
You silly billy. |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 09:13 - Mar 25 with 5999 views | brogansnose |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 23:46 - Mar 24 by J2BLUE |
Football has its place in East Anglia, but wouldn’t be the obsession it is in Manchester, to where Keane quickly returned, after experiencing a culture shock in Ipswich.
Really hate this. Such a condescending attitude to anyone outside the Prem. Commentators do it as well - "they love their football in the north-east" as if no one else does. |
Yep, it stinks. Unfortunately it was the same when Sir Alf was winning titles and has carried on to this day. See also the disparaging comments when there was a clear chance that we might get into the Chumps league with George Burley.
Oh, and all those Manchester fans are actually from Manchester. The blokes a schmuck. |  | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 09:49 - Mar 25 with 5823 views | strikalite |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:43 - Mar 25 by blueislander |
Difficult to imagine anything more pathetic than a bunch of middle aged men giving it large at a football match. |
At least they show some passion, doesn't matter how old you are for that... |  | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 10:10 - Mar 25 with 5726 views | oneonmyknee |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 08:43 - Mar 25 by blueislander |
Difficult to imagine anything more pathetic than a bunch of middle aged men giving it large at a football match. |
Here it is
The thermos flask and tartan blanket type |  | | |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 10:15 - Mar 25 with 5704 views | Mullet |
Keane returned to Cheshire unless he got a job before Ireland I didn't know about. His house is miles away from Manchester and not even in Greater Manchester.
The budgies enjoyed "glamourous moments" in the Premiership? Did they go on some sort of dirty pre-season sex tour?
As for this sentence " the Norfolk club are now helping to prop up Ipswich in the Championship." wtf does this idiot mean?
Utter toilet paper. What a bellend this bloke is. |  |
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| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 10:35 - Mar 25 with 5585 views | nshearman1 |
| Mick to leave “toxic Ipswich Town” - article in Sunday Times tomorrow on 10:15 - Mar 25 by Mullet |
Keane returned to Cheshire unless he got a job before Ireland I didn't know about. His house is miles away from Manchester and not even in Greater Manchester.
The budgies enjoyed "glamourous moments" in the Premiership? Did they go on some sort of dirty pre-season sex tour?
As for this sentence " the Norfolk club are now helping to prop up Ipswich in the Championship." wtf does this idiot mean?
Utter toilet paper. What a bellend this bloke is. |
Let's face it, his byline photo - where hacks go to great lengths to look acceptable - shows he looks a bellend too. | | | |
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