Blues legend Mick Mills believes that Town would have struggled to hold on to their Championship status had they left it any longer before changing managers. Mick McCarthy took over on November 1st after Town had slumped to the bottom of the table on seven points under Paul Jewell, who had left by mutual consent the previous month.

Mills says that having avoided the drop, the club now has the chance to push on: “We have an opportunity to bounce forward.

“We’ve had that difficult spell under Paul Jewell where everything was going wrong and I think if it had been left any longer then we would have been in serious, serious trouble, especially how the league ended up with an amazing amount of points needed to stay in the division.

“Credit to Mick, he got off to a good start and all the way through when people were saying ‘You’ve only drawn the game, are you disappointed you haven’t won?’ he said that he’d take a point a game, and he was saying this from a long time out.

“And it actually proved to be the right thing, all you did need to do was to keep going. He kept them going and the one thing he did was organise things at the back, and that was vital.

“He sorted out the back four and they all of a sudden became a hard team to beat. They learnt how to defend and teams that were going to beat us were going to have to work hard for it.

“No more 5-0s and 6-0s, it was a great performance from the back players, everyone else responded in their own way. I think he did exceptionally well and I just hope we can move forward. We’ve given ourselves a chance to move forward.”

The former England skipper says relegation would have been a disaster: “I don’t agree with the argument that sometimes it does you good to go down because you can come back stronger.

“Sometimes people go down again, and who wants that? I was dreading this club going into League One. They’ve survived that scare and who knows what Mick can do next year.”

Last week McCarthy confirmed that Andy Drury, Arran Lee-Barrett and Lee Martin would be moving on, while Michael Chopra and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who have a year left on their Town contracts, have been told they are free to find new clubs.

Mills says he had high hopes for some of those players at the start of the season: “He’s got to make decisions and each one is different.

“Football is so unpredictable because there’s one amongst that group who I thought was going to be one of our most effective players this season and that was Andy Drury.

“I thought when he came back from Crawley last year he came back into the team and I thought he played really well and I thought that he might come on to really good things.

“And actually, I have to say regarding Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, I expected after what he did at the back end of last season that he was going to come on to become a very key player.

“And the third one, Lee Martin, I thought at the end of last season when he came in and played in a more central position, he looked good. But all three of those have slightly disappointed.

“It’s an up and down thing football and when you get to the end of season you have to make some very difficult decisions. Mick has made them and you have to go with it. There might be one or two that are wrong but he’s got to do it.”

Meanwhile, there is expected to be news of Town’s new kits later this week. The Blues will be replacing both strips again this summer with rumour suggesting the home kit will be a return to the historic white sleeves and the away strip red and black. Next season is the final year of current kit suppliers Mitre’s contract.

Photo: Action Images

JimmyJazz added 08:54 - May 14 Here's a suggestion. Why not the keep the kit the way it is???
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marcusevans added 09:01 - May 14 JimmyJazz Don't ever open a shop will you, there'll be no stock to sell!
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petermorris added 09:24 - May 14 Get rid of that dreadful wisy washy light blue benchwear.
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Lennyboy added 09:30 - May 14 Love Mick to bits. As to the kit, our club badge is now world famous and was designed by a fan when it was put out to the fan base to do so; even I sent a design in. I admit my design wasn't as good as the badge we now have, but there might be an equally brilliant kit designing fan out there as I have to say; I haven't really liked the last two home kits. What ever happens, its another shirt I have to buy which will support Town, please let it be a good design. COYB!!!!

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unstableblue added 09:48 - May 14 Mick's bang on about JET he secured some valuable points with his ability to beat a man with some flair - something our team badly needs. Come on Mick give him a chance
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Jeff_winger added 10:13 - May 14 Having looked at all the previous kits since town were formed it looks like back in the day we had stripes for a good number of years. My favourites always been the white sleeves , I liked the the red laces as well from 92 season. http://historicalkits.co.uk/Ipswich_Town/Ipswich_Town.htm
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Earl60 added 10:18 - May 14 Regarding Drury, feel he was somewhat restricted under Mick, he's a player that likes to get forward, always been a flair player, but had to play more of a defensive role to fit in with Mick's team ethic. Can't fault Mick's approach, it works, but Drury IMO will be better off playing for a manager that let's him play his natural game, playing week in week out. Thought that Charlton away illustrated the latter perfectly, thought he was excellent in that game, but was pulled off after 60 mins. Not good for a players confidence, being regularly subbed, and dropped at the first opportunity. As for the other players, all could have been key players next season, no player is at their best every season e.g Smith, Hyam. MM should have kept this squad together

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bluemikey100 added 10:46 - May 14 we got lucky with DJ CAMPBELL scoring loads goals as well he didnt score for blackburn i dont think
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MattinLondon added 10:48 - May 14 I want an orange away kit
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SouperJim added 11:18 - May 14 White sleeves, get in! Might actually buy the shirt this year!
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gypo added 12:25 - May 14 Will we get a new man on radio Suffolk great player and legend but Jesus how boring and dull does he sound also bitter and twisted he never got managers job to me. And before you all go on I work Saturdays and can't make home games . Alex Mathie and Ray Crawford at least they have a laugh roll on away games . Here I'll start you off -1
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itfc1981 added 12:30 - May 14 These are not Rhodes type mistakes, they have had a fair crack at the whip and been found to be wanting.
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fatcentrehalf added 13:53 - May 14 Mick mills talks the most sense on radio Suffolk by some distance,he's articulate and vey knowledgable.I'm not going to slate the rest,but god help us if one of our biggest Town legends is not on the wireless! Next season.
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nolanfanips added 16:29 - May 14 I agree that Mick Mills is one of the very best pundit we have had on Radio Suffer for a while. Knows the game, understands the tactics and knows the players. He will give you a view of the issues and the way the team is playing (or should be!). He's not been far off with his views and his reading of the game. Very diplomatic in showing where PJ was going wrong and offered some steady advice regarding who could or would come in in October. A giant leap from some we have had. I think we need a commentator who knows the rules and understands the game very often commentates on a different game to the one I am watching!!!

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h32 added 17:58 - May 14 ...... more wise words from another MM - Town Legend if ever there was one. A pleasure to listen to as a pundit on the Radio - knows the game inside out, and talks total sense. Total travesty of justice that he has never secured an integral position at this Club - the Club he loves, like the rest of us. Keep up the good work Micky Mills.
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h32 added 18:03 - May 14 gypo - you deserve to beat the record of minus's for that post - undeserved, incorrect etc, etc; - obviously your knowledge of the game has to be seriously questioned to post such rubbish. However, everyone entitled to their opinion - however questionable.
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megamoth added 18:08 - May 14 mick mills pictured wearing the perfect kit. Bring it!
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ntoms97 added 18:33 - May 14 He is an amazing Colour commentator and I feel if we'd of had him in september where we would be now
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BerlinBlue added 21:44 - May 14 Mick Mills is an absolutely brilliant commentator. Dull and boring? Definitely not. Knowledgeable, insightful, analytical, passionate? Definitely yes. I hope he's on the radio for years to come. @gypo: you say you get the impression he's bitter and twisted he never got the manager's job. Utter rubbish! You should be the forum comedian.
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Walk_the_Wark added 00:01 - May 15 One of the best full backs in the modern day game.. end of
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h32 added 18:03 - May 15 ...... some people's understanding of the game is so minuscule - I guess Mick Mills and his knowledge would lose them completely. Can only assume that is the reason for any negative comments - can be no other reason.
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