Boss Mick McCarthy has revealed that he spoke to owner Marcus Evans shortly before yesterday’s press conference and the subject of the vacant Ireland job didn’t come up. The Town boss believes that Martin O’Neill is “a shoo-in” to replace Giovanni Trapattoni, who left the position by mutual consent on Wednesday.

Speaking yesterday afternoon, McCarthy said: “I just spoke to him before I came in here and it was never mentioned. I like Marcus for his pragmatic nature.

“If I went to him and said ‘I don’t want to be here anymore’, I think he’d be the first to say ‘What’s the point of doing it then?’.

“But that’s not the case, I get on great with him and I’m very lucky in that respect. We were talking about other things. That has never been mentioned between Marcus and I.”

He says he didn’t encourage the speculation linking him with the position he previously held between 1996 and 2002, but expected it.

“I can’t help being linked with it,” he said. “Every time it comes up I think I’d like to be linked with it because of the job I did, not because I’m available, because I’m not, I’m contracted to Ipswich and I’m loving the job I’m doing.

“In time I hope we can get to the Premier League with Ipswich. I think I should be linked with it with the job I did before because I did a good job.

“Behind Jack [Charlton] I think I probably did as well if not better than anybody else. I think for that reason, yes [I will be linked], but Martin O’Neill, because of circumstances, is unemployed. Maybe if I was unemployed that might be different, but I think it’s perfect for him, I really do.”

McCarthy, who says he'd like the job again at some point in the future, added: “I’m not disappointed, I’m absolutely thrilled with the job I’ve got. This is a great club and I think I’ve got a great squad of players that we can build on, and I’ve got a terrific owner who deserves a bit more respect than me thinking ‘It’s the wrong time’.

“He’s great, I’ve really got a good relationship with him, that’s important as well.

"So, no, I’m not disappointed that it’s the wrong time, it’s not, it’s the right time for somebody and I think [for] Martin O’Neill it’s the right time. If, as I’m led to believe, he’s got the job.”

Photo: Action Images

irishtim added 06:18 - Sep 14 Hopefully Marcus was discussing funds with Mick for a striker. Matty Fryatt available for loan maybe an option?
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ArnieM added 08:22 - Sep 14 Perhaps now we can all settle down and get on with the REAL job in hand - getting promted and build this great Club back to what it used to be. In mick we have exactly the right man for the job.
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Michael11 added 09:32 - Sep 14 @irishtim A fully fit Matty Fryatt's a great shout. Just the sort of poacher we need alongside McGoldrick.
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DurhamTownFan added 09:42 - Sep 14 I'm gonna probably upset some people here but... Does anyone think that MM is a REAL contender for the Ireland job? Two things make me skeptical. First, his recent managerial record links him with one club narrowly avoiding relegation from the Prem (Wolves) and one narrowly avoiding relegation from the Championship (us). VERY impressive stuff with us last year, but hardly inspiring on the world stage. Second, MM's style of play. One of the biggest criticisms against Trappatoni's Ireland was their use of the long ball. Would Mick's Ireland play any different? His recent record at Town suggests not. I am not writing this to criticize MM as a manager: I think his level-headed straightforward style is critically lacking in modern football, and I do believe that we'll finish much higher than our current form shows. I simply wrote this post to reassure everyone that I don;t think there's much real chance of MM leaving for the Ireland job, especially since Martin O'Neill (the lad in charge of Narich who oversaw one of the most glorious own goals mankind will ever see) looks such a shoe-in.

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RetroBlue added 10:34 - Sep 14 personally I always think its an error to "go back" to previous employment. Everything for all parties has moved on. Mick (in light of your comments ) I agree probably needs to make a good go of it at Club level and have some success again to raise his stock further still. Personally I feel MM is the perfect fit with Ipswich Town FC and over the next 2 -3 season he will get the end result we all crave. The quick fix mentality has hopefully been put to bed now. Build from the bottom upwards through the whole Club.

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Paddy39 added 10:55 - Sep 14 I quite agree RetroBlue but it doesn't escape the fact we do need one more addition to our team "a proven striker". Imo Alan Lee at full fitness would probably score more than any of our present strike force but WE definately need that new addition. TOWN 2 - 1 BORO'
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Pip50 added 11:17 - Sep 14 Wish I had a boss like MM "I don't like it here"- "what's the point in staying" here is a large cheque !!
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