Manager Mick McCarthy says it will be owner Marcus Evans’s call to decide whether offers received for his players will be accepted ahead of the closure of the transfer window on Monday at 11pm. Yesterday, the Blues boss said he hoped his phone wouldn’t ring ahead of the deadline, while centre-half Tommy Smith was linked with a possible move to Crystal Palace.

“I’m not in a position to accept a bid or to turn one down,” McCarthy said. “You’d have to speak to Marcus about that, whether there’s a value on anybody.

“That’s Marcus’s call, absolutely, it’s not [down to me]. Mine would be no, absolutely no. And I think that’s the same with Marcus.”

McCarthy, who said yesterday that there could be an addition to his squad on loan before the window closes, is keen to add to the numbers at his disposal and hopes to have injured pair Stephen Hunt and Cameron Stewart back for the Millwall game in a fortnight.

“I’d like Hunty back and I’d like Cameron Stewart back as well, two of the players who haven’t been available to me,“ he added. “That would be a really good start. I’d like reinforcements but nothing’s going to happen between now and Saturday.”

He says that with loanees still available and free agents such as Jack Collison and Darren Ambrose - who play for Town’s U21s on Monday - up for grabs the closure of the transfer window isn’t particularly significant.

“While we’ve got those [options] there’s no need to panic and I think that when Premier League teams get their squads together eventually, that’s the time that they’ll loan somebody out.”

Regarding Collison and Ambrose, he says he’s been pleased with what he’s seen of them in training: “They’ve both trained well, both look fit but it’s a different ball game playing 90 minutes on a big pitch.

“But they’ve both done OK. Neither of them look out of place in training, that’s for sure.”

Collison, who was released by West Ham last summer, and former Blue Ambrose, who left Birmingham at the end of last season, will play in Monday's U21 match against Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road (KO 7pm).

Photo: Action Images

kesgrave_bluey added 12:09 - Aug 29 for anyone on here expecting nick powell or some other young prem wunderkid I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. MM picked up Bru/Banjer and can't decide on collinson/ambrose. Look at the rest of the squad for a bit of talent. It isn't there and this Prem loan starlet is a load of blarney.
0

NSL added 12:41 - Aug 29 Bringing in expensive loan players is ok when you need one or two bits of extra quality to get promotion, but to bring them in when it is obvious we wont finish above around 10th position is a complete waste of money. In fact it again raises questions around ME's ability to run a football business. I would surely be much better to either buy in some bargain youngsters from perhaps the lower leagues or re-invest it in the youth academy thus building a team for the future. ME then needs to come out say that is what he is doing like Sheepshaks did with his 5 year plan. All we get is ME saying he is committed to us achieving promotion but the exact plan is anyones guess. He probably doesnt even know himself.

4

PSGBlue added 12:59 - Aug 29 I gave up my S/Tlast season, mainly for work reason's but still make around 10-13 home games and a few away games. But I am glad I did give it up as paying £520 a season for watching this Town side is not worth the value. Defeat at Derby will put an end to a top two finish and its another season of managers/coaches/players coming out to say we can still make top six with a decent run. There must be a number of fans like myself who travel 100 miles+ to watch Town. It's alright for those who live in Ipswich to go and watch this rubbish, they can leave home at 14.00 and be in the pub by 17.15. For us 100 mile+ fans its a days excusion with all the expense. A day out watching Ipswich is starting to feel like a day at work, you go because you feel you have too!

5

TimmyH added 13:12 - Aug 29 As a few others mentioned, a bit worrying Mick coming out with this before the transfer window closes...can't remember him saying similar things to this last season. Perhaps we are all jumping to assumptions but to lose either Smith or McGoldrick would just add insult to injury. Feel sorry for the season ticket holders.
3

Superfrans added 15:28 - Aug 29 I have a season ticket and am really glad. As for your suggestion, "big" Gaz, going into administration again would be a coward's way out and is what would destroy our reputation completely.
1

We_hate_Norwich added 16:00 - Aug 29 We're doomed I tells thee, doomed!!
2

blueboy1981 added 17:24 - Aug 29 ...... doesn't it really say something when Season Ticket holders (paid up front) are actually thinking twice before attending games (myself included) - but I have to admit I can totally understand why. We know what we are in for before we set off - and it's NOT going to be what we have come to expect over the years. This Club of ours has set standards to be proud of - sadly, and continuously now diminishing. We have had lean and keen times in the past, but there has mostly been some pacifying direction to be seen at least, either by explanation and / or by feeling reasonable close to the Club - in other words we've felt as if concern is understood. WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT. It seems that the philosophy now is feed potential season ticket punters whatever is deemed necessary, let them cough up - mission then accomplished, until the next time. Will be seen as 'moaning' by low intelligence - not at all - just stating facts. Hit the self identification button.

6

Hegansheroes added 18:47 - Aug 29 Perhaps my wildest dreams will come true & Leeds will take MM off our hands so he can drag them into the abyss he has created here (he did support them as a youngster). I do know that ME has little knowledge of football & very little interest apart from the financial side of it. He expected to get to the Premiership by putting in a high profile man (Keane) & throwing a bit of money about. His aim was to then sell the club & make a profit. I cannot divulge how I know this as it would compromise someone but I can assure you this is the case

4

Warkys_Tash added 19:03 - Aug 29 If we sell any of our top players, Berra, McGoldrick then it will be a complete disgrace & we might as well throw in the towel. If this happens then the club need to come clean on the real financial figures..
3

wayway added 21:16 - Aug 29 First of all there is no such person as 'Marcus Evans'. This is a corporate name and the face you see in the crowd sometimes is only an employee. I have been saying for 2 years that the corporate Evans can't wait to hive off the club now they realise the will be no golden egg of the premier league. Just tell me which other club in any league employs a CEO who knows nothing whatsoever about the game and then tell me what director or chairman would put up with the totally boring hoof ball we have been subjected to by McCarthy these last 2 years. I did not agree at the time but perhaps relegation two seasons ago would not have been a bad thing if we had a manager who could build a decent team and play football as it should be played. One more thing to ask our pathetic management, why does football on a tight budget have to be so negative?

3

Superblue95 added 01:32 - Aug 30 If we sell Mcgoldrick or smith, or both, then never mind a play off push it will be a certain relegation scrap ahead of us. Can only hope we keep our better players sign a couple of decent players on loan then pray day and night for a footballing miracle. If not potentially very dark times ahead
1

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls