Caretaker-manager Ian McParland admitted that Town’s 7-0 FA Cup embarrassment at Chelsea was the worst result of his coaching and management career. The match, the Blues' worst ever defeat in the competition, looks likely to be McParland’s one game in charge with Town set to name Paul Jewell as their new manager on Monday.

McParland says it won’t be easy for the team to get over such a heavy loss: “I’ve been a manager and a coach for years, and I’ve never been beaten like that. It hurts my pride. They’ll bounce back, I’ll bounce back. It’s up to the players.

“Let’s not forget who they are playing against. I think there are Premier League clubs who came down here and lost by seven and eight last year. We’re maybe in good company. Let’s not forget the other teams which have come down here and got a good hiding. But it doesn’t make it any easier for me.”

The man known as throughout football as Charlie says he thought the tie could go one of two ways before kick-off: “I knew what was going to happen today. We’re a few players down, the boys are a bit shellshocked with the manager going on Thursday and even with our strongest team we’d have had a struggle on down here because we’ve huffed and puffed in the Championship.

“I thought we would either give a good account of ourselves or we could take a good thrashing, and unfortunately it was the latter.”

McParland says it’s impossible to say whether the game would have gone better had Roy Keane still been manager: “It’s hard to say whether it would have been any different had Roy still been here. I’d like to think it would have been. Who knows?

“For half an hour we were doing OK, we were in the game. Then we gave them three quick goals, three bad goals, especially the own goal, and we crumbled a little bit. Our players were chasing the Chelsea players about, top class players, and they got tired. The way we conceded goals wasn’t good.”

The 49-year-old coach had sympathy with Town’s 3,000-strong travelling support: “I feel sorry for the Ipswich fans today.

“They’re a good bunch of fans, it’s a good football club and I just hope the new man that comes in can deliver some success and put smiles on their faces.

“The fans were fantastic today, they came and enjoyed their day. I think they enjoyed it a little bit better than me.”

McParland, who expects to leave the club when the new manager is appointed, says he knows nothing of the club’s timetable, but feels the incoming boss has a difficult task on his hands: “I think he’s got a very tough job. He’ll be sitting up there watching and I hope he’s in by Wednesday [before the Arsenal Carling Cup semi-final].”

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says his recently struggling team will benefit from the display and victory: “We needed to have this type of performance and the result was good.

“There were a lot of things we did well in this game - the performance of the team, a lot of strikers came back to score - Anelka and Lampard.

“But obviously we don’t have to get excited because we have to give the same performance next week against Blackburn. With this victory our confidence will improve.”

The Italian felt the game was a contest for the first half hour: “In the first 30 minutes I was a little bit worried, there was less confidence in our play. But when we scored the first goal, everything was OK.

“In the first 30 minutes Ipswich played a good game, after that they defended well, they had two good opportunities, one shot from distance, one from a cross.

“They played a good game for 30 minutes, after the first goal it was easier for us to play our football, to counter-attack and to score more goals.”

Photo: Action Images

fifeblue added 18:19 - Jan 9 McParland OUT!
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Jesney_Havoc added 18:20 - Jan 9 Yokel !
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loudnproud added 18:22 - Jan 9 This just goes on to say that we are saving our best for the "Gooners".....Hope the players will learn from it!
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jas0999 added 18:24 - Jan 9 Disappointing result, but I think most of us expected it. Although perhaps not 7-0. If Jewell is appointed then I'll give him a chance - but my gut reaction is it's a very poor appointment. Of course, we are all entitled to our opinion. Still think Roy should have been in charge for this match - pretty unfair on McPartland.
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thechangingman added 18:27 - Jan 9 And this my friends, is what it would be like in the Premiership, week-in-week-out... Do be careful what you wish for...
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BlooooCD added 18:29 - Jan 9 We are light years away from the premiership! Miles and miles!! This game was shocking and the coach journey is worse!
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cromwellblue added 18:31 - Jan 9 BBRK
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bizman added 18:33 - Jan 9 Colin Healy ---TERRIBLE today! Jaime peters ---Played his heart out
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Keaneish added 18:41 - Jan 9 Not too fussed either way as it's the cup. This gives whoever is coming in (Jewell) a fair reflection on exactly how big the the mess is that Keane has left behind.
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rockstar1981 added 18:43 - Jan 9 Bring back Keane!! :P
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lowtit added 18:44 - Jan 9 by god it would be nice to have something happen to put a smile on our f+++ing faces!
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mark1969 added 18:46 - Jan 9 we got what we deserved , now lets move forward with a new manager , cut the dead wood players and inept coaches and become a proper team again . If it is to be Jewell , then Clegg has a leak in his team or he told someone as the bookies odds collapsed.As he denied it on friday as well , if it is Jewell then Cleggs position would be untenable he would have to go as well !!!!

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Clive525 added 18:47 - Jan 9 With the dressing room unrest hinted at by G Mac this is probably a sign of things to come especially if all money for transfer window has been used to pay off RK and staff. Should have settled for lower table finish and started again next year. I now think we will go down especially as the probable new manager is already rejected by half the fans. Only the fans can save the club so lets get behind them. We will still be here when ME/SC long gone.

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bluearmy4life added 18:48 - Jan 9 I didn't expect us to lose 7-0 it's very embarassing I did think we would lose 3-0 or 4-0 but 7 is a joke. Agree with Keaneish Keane has assembled a very poor squad so it will take quite sometime for the new manager to try and put right. From now on in we need postivity back the new boss whoever it may be well apart from Megson. I'm hoping for Curbs or Jewell. Both have lot's of experience.

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oddball added 18:52 - Jan 9 Lots of teams playing prem opposition and not losing 7-0, result like this should not be expected at all, pathetic performance, players need to sort themselves out and fast, poor side built by keane, ips a mess, tough job for new manager.
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Topps added 18:53 - Jan 9 What a lack lustre shower of ****!! Now Keane's gone the real issue will be revealed - that the current lazy blokes who put on our teams shirts, can be bothered to go the extra mile for our beloved club. There were five players that Keane didn't sign starting today and the five of the six he did were plucked from the premiership. I think Evans needs to call the players together and suggest they forfeit their wages this week as an apology to the loyal supporters who travelled and paid good money to witness that joke today. Then get the new manager to see who stands up to be counted on Wednesday night. The rest can go staright on the transfer market and lets get some players in (lower league if necessary) with some talent, but most importantly some heart. Rant over.

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sirburley added 18:54 - Jan 9 .....and 20 months,£10 million later this is where we are!Was expecting to get beat today but was hoping not to get trounced.Oh well.Think we need a magician instead of a manager cos we are in a total mess.Will prob hear something tomorrow on his identity,i wish whoever it is(but not gary megson)the best of luck but wether we agree with the choice or not lets just give him our full support cos he is gonna need it

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oddball added 18:55 - Jan 9 Agreed many good results for lower league clubs showing spirit and desire.
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moomoosereni added 18:55 - Jan 9 Chelsea fielded a stronger team than perhaps what people would have thought! I've found Mcparland a little cutting with comments, but i guess you would be because you know your job is up. It's a result to forget and we will I'm sure possibly come tomorrow morning. I won't be delighted if it's Jewell but same time I just want to see a change in fortunes, the crap weeded out and the club to just move forward (ie. get away from the bottom three, then hopefully consolidate). End of the day, I think the change was needed, as risky as it is, and we just have to get behind whoever the new boss is and hopefully move onwards and upwards!

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Garv added 18:56 - Jan 9 Colin healy was not terrible today, ok he gave the ball away two crucial times but when we did get the ball down and play, and crucially tried to get the ball forward. At the end of the day chelsea are the holders and prem champs, ok we weren't our best today but let's face facts they were too good for us. Not particularly looking forward to Wednesday after today but bring it on! P.s I liked peters today, very unlucky not to score.

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mikeybloo88 added 18:56 - Jan 9 Stop overreacting!! Blackpool and WBA lost 6-0 to Chelsea this season, so we know when they're on form they can do it to anyone. Our players were hardly in a great frame of mind, so I wouldn't read anything into this. New manager, new dawn.
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shaund added 18:58 - Jan 9 Someone said "cut out the dead wood players and inept coaches" That leaves the tea lady and I reckon she would do well as a no9
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Topps added 19:00 - Jan 9 Mikeybloo... are you on another planet? We are not overreacting, we are speaking the truth. You cannot surely defend such a performance? Chelsea are on their worse run in about 5 years. Leeds went to Arsenal (who have thrashed some premiership teams this season) and played them off the park. Now no one was expecting a performance like Leeds but to lose 7-0 is NOT good enough, end of.

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truebluesince1992 added 19:04 - Jan 9 Thank god so many contracts are up get rid of all the rubbish let's hope new boss can get some names in asap this club is in a very big mess thanks to roy it's amazing how bad we have got since he turned up. Poor result today let's hope the new man can pick us up for Wednesday COYB
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oddball added 19:05 - Jan 9 Mickeybloo- cannot agree, ips have been poor all season, effort poor, attitude poor, keane has left club in a mess but the players do not play with passion. this is the worst ips side for a long time.
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