TWTD understands that Mick McCarthy will be confirmed as Town’s new manager in the next couple of days with his Wolves assistant Terry Connor and with former Blues skipper Matt Holland as part of his staff. McCarthy has been favourite to succeed Paul Jewell since he was reported to be in talks with Town at the end of last week.

The 53-year-old was sacked by Wolves after six years in charge in February. His assistant, one-time England U21 international Connor, took over for the remainder of the season but couldn’t prevent the Black Country club from dropping into the Championship.

Born in Barnsley, centre-half McCarthy played for his hometown club, Manchester City, Celtic, Lyon and Millwall as well as winning 57 caps and scoring two goals for the Republic of Ireland, the country of his father’s birth.

He began his management career with the Lions in 1992 before moving on to manage his former national side in 1996, a spell which saw his famous clash with ex-Blues boss Roy Keane at the 2002 World Cup.

A few months after that tournament — in which Holland was a regular in the Ireland midfield — McCarthy resigned, joining Sunderland as their boss in March 2003, taking the Black Cats into the Premier League in 2004/05. Having failed to keep them in the top flight the following season he was fired.

In July 2006 he took over at Wolves and led them into the Premier League as Championship winners in 2008/09 and kept them there until his exit in February.

Connor, 49, was a striker with Leeds, Brighton, Portsmouth, Swindon, Bristol City and Yeovil during his playing days.

After hanging up his boots, he coached at Swindon, Bristol Rovers and Bristol City before being taken to Wolves by John Ward in 1999.

In February he took over after McCarthy’s sacking, rejoining the backroom team under new boss StÃ¥le Solbakken. But four games into this season he left the club.

Holland, 38, needs no introduction to Town supporters having played at Portman Road between 1997 and 2003 during which time he skippered the side in the 2000 play-off final victory over Barnsley at Wembley.

Previously with West Ham and Bournemouth, Holland moved on to Charlton before retiring in 2009. More recently the Bury-born midfielder, who won 49 Ireland caps, scoring five times, has been working in the media and is the patron of the ITFC Charitable Trust.

Blues skipper Carlos Edwards previously played for McCarthy during a two-month spell on loan at Wolves in 2008, making five starts and one sub appearance.

Loanee Daryl Murphy was signed from his hometown club Waterford United during McCarthy's time as Sunderland boss, after he had had trials at Portman Road.

Coach Mark Kennedy previously worked with the new boss as a youngster at Millwall and for the Republic of Ireland.

Photo: Action Images

irishtim added 15:47 - Oct 31 Can we get to the finishing line?? Or is it going to be like the transfer sagas! Prib have to get a manager on loan lol.
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Lightningboy added 16:17 - Oct 31 Can only comment on what I read & hear but if we can't get any of the current candidates because of money ,then we could give the job to someone who would do it clearly for the love of it?....Mr.Burley.
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Keaneish added 16:18 - Oct 31 Yep! We've become accustomed to stalls in recent years when deals have been on the verge of completion. Is this another? Strange they've not even announced they'll be a press conference in the morning!
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cromwellblue added 16:31 - Oct 31 TWTD Understands....... They may have misunderstood You lot need to stop taking rumour as fact.
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irishtim added 16:34 - Oct 31 It's not ideal with a big week coming. Get him in to sort this mess pronto.
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thebeat added 16:40 - Oct 31 if Holland is gona be part of the team why is he working on talksport this afternoon? surely he should be sorting his deal out?
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irishtim added 16:46 - Oct 31 Dont think he is part of the set up according to ssn mate.
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Keaneish added 17:28 - Oct 31 I have a conspiracy theory... Evans has set this up for Clegg to finalise but really it's an impossible deal somewhere down the line which McCarthy won't agree to. The deal will collapse, Clegg will take the heat and be released from his role appeasing the fans and Evans real first choice is Olly! ...maybe. It is taking a bloody long time to announce! Evans also has a 67 million bet on Olly becoming manager which will then clear all our debt. Maybe.

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parhamblue added 17:55 - Oct 31 Maybe if we all went to Portugal for a couple of days and came back it would move things along?
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 18:06 - Oct 31 Are we sure that ITFC are looking to sign the Mick McCarthy that all we know of? After all Clegg is not renowned for his knowledge of the football world and for all we know he has done a quick google search and has unwittingly contacted and been negotiating with the wrong Mick McCarthy. It turns out that this Mick McCarthy is a great painter and decorator, likes a pie and a pint and plays a bit of sunday pub league footy but is not such a good football manager - happy days!

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BlooooCD added 18:26 - Oct 31 I think they are holding off making an announcement to avoid him taking the reigns for the trip to Brum! Not the best fixture to start your tenure with.....
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KiwiBlue2 added 21:35 - Oct 31 He should be able to stabilise things, move the unmotivated out and attract some better talent and by January have us away from the relegation zone. If he does not work out it will be hard to see where we could go next apart from League 1 .... fingers crossed.....
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