Centre-half Tommy Smith believes manager Mick McCarthy moving on would be a “massive loss” for the Blues, the Town boss having been linked with the vacant job at soon-to-be-relegated Aston Villa.

McCarthy is now ranked as the joint-fourth favourite for the role left by Remi Garde by mutual consent last week behind new favourite Nigel Pearson, David Moyes and then Hull City manager Steve Bruce, whose odds narrowed significantly last night.

The 57-year-old Blues manager, widely quoted at 8-1 along with Wales boss Chris Coleman, has said he takes being mentioned in connection with a club such as Villa as a compliment.

But Smith says it’s important that McCarthy remains at Town: “Of course it is, we’ve improved every season he’s been here so far. It would be a massive loss for us, but hopefully he’ll stay.

“I know the squad of players are all backing him to stay and there’s not a lot we can do about it, to be honest. We’ve just got to crack on and do our jobs and hope that he does the same.”

He added: “His career in management speaks for itself. It’s no surprise to us that he has been linked with jobs, he’s been linked to jobs previously while he’s been with us. A manager of his calibre is always going to be linked with jobs.”

Reflecting on Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Wolves, Smith said: “It was definitely a much better performance. It was disappointing for everyone involved with the club after the last game at home to Rotherham.

“We knew we had to put in a decent performance against a Wolves team which is better than their league form has shown this season.

“I’m delighted to come away with a point at the end of the day but we felt on the day we could have, and perhaps should, have taken the three points.”

Town went closest when Liam Feeney hit the post, while Brett Pitman had a second-half header brilliantly saved by Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme, having had the ball cleared off the line by Kortney Hause just before the break when squaring to the on-loan Bolton man might have been a better option.

“Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, if he scores nobody’s going to say that,” Smith continued. “It’s the hardest thing to do in football to put the ball in the back of the net and unfortunately we haven’t managed to do that but a point away from home and a clean sheet is never a bad thing.

“We had the chances to win the game and it’s disappointing that we didn’t manage to capitalise on that and I can only remember Bart having only one save to make all game.

“But as the gaffer has said, a point away from home, especially away at Wolves, is a good point.

“We move on to two home games next week and hopefully we can pick up six points there.”

With the Blues now five points off the play-offs, in a practical sense six given Town’s inferior goal difference, Smith admits that there's little scope for slip-ups in the remaining seven games.

“There aren’t many more points we can afford to drop if we want to be back in those play-offs.

“It’s about keeping on going and never believing that you’re out of it. Six points could swing in two games.

“We’ve just got to keep our heads, keep going, keep focused and hopefully it’ll click for us.”

Having failed to beat Wolves taking something from the away trips to fellow play-off contenders Sheffield Wednesday and Derby is now even more important.

“They would be anyway but we need to take points off those teams to gain an advantage on them and try and get closer to them," the 26-year-old added.

“They will be important games but before that we’ve got two home games which we have to make sure we take maximum points from.”

The New Zealand international says Charlton, who beat Birmingham 2-1 on Saturday, will be fighting for their lives, just as Town were during McCarthy’s first season at Portman Road.

“We were there a few years ago and we started beating teams that were looking upwards rather than behind them and when you’re having a scrap to avoid relegation sometimes you can produce your best performances.

“They’ll battle away and it’ll be tough for us but we’ve got the quality to beat those sorts of teams.

“There will be pressure on both teams for different reasons on Tuesday night but we are where we are for a reason and hopefully we can put another nail in their coffin.”

Photo: Action Images

tractorshark added 10:07 - Apr 4 That's more like it, Mr Penguin. Personally, I wouldn't put McCarthy in the same bracket as Keane and Jewell. He has achieved far more than those two here and, don't forget, he had to do that while rectifying their mistakes. He has kept us going in an upward curve up until this season and delivered us a playoff position. Whether or not he can take us any further is open to debate and unquestionably determined by investment in the squad. I think he deserves another year, given the injuries to key men this season. I still maintain he can get us promoted and we can play a better brand of football but we need more strength in depth - not the Varneys, Cokes etc. That's partly Mick's fault but mainly Evans'. He gave Magilton, Keane and Jewell money to spend and, with the exception of a handful of players, that money was wasted. The football is not pretty but I still believe Mick can improve on that and get us promoted.

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Marcus added 10:26 - Apr 4 We are slowly progressing with MM. The squad is getting stronger (pity about injuries) and the youth structure is starting to come together for the long term development. However the style of football is highly unattractive - this isn't endemic through the club, just the first team - this means there's a style gap between the first team and the rest of the squad but also means that training isn't as one dimensional as some suggest. It's a sad fact that ''hoofball" has become the standard for the division where results matter more than performance. While we're competing against a division of physical teams, many with a lot more money than we have, we have a choice of doing what we can with what we have or falling behind. It's depressing but MM knows this division and the drab football is possibly the best we can get with what we've got. While few (including myself) would be that upset if he left, I feel we should acknowledge the club is in a stronger position now than it has been since the crisis that ended Burley's career (although Joe Royle was treated badly by fans and wasn't given a proper chance). It does seem like a no-win scenario but Ipswich have always been best with stability and I think we should entertain the concept of sticking behind a manager who isn't failing (while not succeeding in the eyes of many) and seeing how the squad develops. I still hate to think where we might be with a different manager after Jewell.

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greenkingtone added 10:46 - Apr 4 Mac is not going anywhere boys.
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brittaniaman added 10:55 - Apr 4 If we did get to the play offs and that is a big IF, because the teams above us, no way are they going to lose 2 matches and us win two ?? can anybody see us beating Sheffield wed. Middlesboro or Derby away ?? who are far more equipped for it than we are, What a feather in MMs cap that would be if the miracle did happen ??? and that would be Optimism.
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flyingdutchman added 10:56 - Apr 4 They'll b a few who will have to get there fingers out if he goes hopefully
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Gcon added 10:57 - Apr 4 Penguinblue - don't bother renewing your season ticket, mate. No team needs 'support' like yours. You have never made one single positive or constructive comment.
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essex57 added 11:04 - Apr 4 Gcon Brilliant
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Cakeman added 11:18 - Apr 4 Perhaps too early to call but fact is we have not improved on last season. League position and entertainment provided are the evidence. I think our current position/state is down to a combination of both owner and manager therefore arguably a change of both required if we are to see any change in fortune next season. Woodbridgian make sure a valid comment about possible seat change for next season. I too sit in the Sir Alf stand and from my view I have seen very little to encourage me. I am glad that I sit in the upper tier though as at least I can see the ball clearly as it is usually launched at eye level to me.

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blueherts added 11:33 - Apr 4 Whether you are Pro or Con MM and I was a supporter up until the turn of the year when ; a) MM 'rewarded MM with another contract - and yet felt ( or Mick felt) we had a deep enough strength in depth to cover us for the run in Inspite of losing Parr and the flying Aussie? and not having Dids and Bish available 'There is no one out there better than what we have' REALLY ? So then we lose Fraser and all of a sudden we are paper thin so then he adds and , Yes , I think Pringle , Feeney and what I have seen of Foley ARE better than what we had - but why not move in January Look at our form and performances since the turn of the year ( like last season ) 5 wins in 16 since Jan 01st We reached the play offs last season by others slipping up - not by a late charge What we need is a 'ALL OR NOTHING' set up to win mentality - we have NOTHING TO LOSE And here in lies the problem with MM - He is , by nature, risk averse, lets play not to lose .In the situation we are in now we need to go all out for a win ..so , Let us just see if we can see Bru , Feeney , and Pringle with Dids and Sears ( or maybe Bishop / Dozzell) Skuse can sit in front WHY NOT What is the worst that can happen I await and if he does - fair play and lets so some ambition !!

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blueherts added 11:35 - Apr 4 sorry should be ME rewarded - but maybe I was right first time ? where is ME ? Who is ME ?
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blueherts added 12:02 - Apr 4 Matt Clarke - bring him back
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neil1968 added 12:12 - Apr 4 No tractorshark what is a bore is the Ipswich town style of play ,Mick McCarthy , a good handful of the players and an ever decreasing circle of deluded town fans that need to get their tongues out of McCarthy's backside
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rightwinger added 12:24 - Apr 4 Progress means not so many tweaks for next season.
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Lightningboy added 12:34 - Apr 4 The biggest problem with Mick is that even when we've gone on winning runs under him,sooner or later he resorts to type and starts picking defensive favourites in order not to lose rather than going out to win games. I bet he was well chuffed with that result on Saturday. I can only imagine what the messageboards are going to be like tomorrow evening if we lose?!
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Lathers added 12:36 - Apr 4 I can't see us being any better next season or any more entertaining, so why not cut MM loose in the summer and try someone different. We are going to lose Fraser, AMN and maybe Feeney in the summer. The back 4 needs a complete overhaul as it's too slow and error prone, the centre of mid lacks creativity, we won't have any wingers, and apart from Sears I think our other attacking options are fairly average. I appreciate we have Bish and DM to come back but that isn't going to mend us. I can't bare facing another season like this. Our football and style of play is the worst I can remember.

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sidtheswan added 12:53 - Apr 4 MM would be a massive loss for you Tommy as you and Christophe are both left footed which un balances the back four so a new manager might put you in the reserves! For us not so much of a loss as football is in the entertainment business and we're not getting entertained !
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martin587 added 16:10 - Apr 4 Please,what improvement have you or the suffering supporters seen this season.Not much,that's for sure.The only improvement I can see is the constant commitment Of Freddie Sears.
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TimmyH added 16:35 - Apr 4 Under another manager some of the defense won't be able to rest on their laurels if they play indifferently or not...under McCarthy this HAS been the case (certainly this season). A massive loss if he went?...well at presently I'm not so sure.
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grumpyoldman added 16:42 - Apr 4 In what way have we progressed? Are we likely to finish higher - NO, are the crowds bigger-NO, will we end up with more points -NO, have we scored more goals - NO. The thing this club has progressed in is more fans on this site moaning about the manager, the owner, the players, the style. Up until this season I was supporting MM but the dross this year has made me stop visiting PR, no I did not boo the team, abuse players, I supported the team while in PR, but I will not waste any money on this club until MM has gone. Another thing that has grown has been the number saying they will not renew season tickets

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warktheline added 17:18 - Apr 4 If McCarthy gets offered the Villa job, he'll be off no doubt about that. Villa are a massive club in comparison to our sleepy ' happy to be wondering around championship club' . Putting aside style of play, I have little doubt McCarthy would have taken us up with a little investment on pitch, that hasn't and won't happen, so why stay? Let's not forget he quickly straightened up our shambolic club and made us competitive, something Villa are in desperate need of, and if they, unlike our owner, threw a copper or two at it, it wouldn't surprise me to see them the next promoted on the big mans CV!

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HackneyBlue added 18:19 - Apr 4 Yes MM has done well but only if you can suffer the type of football he demands,Tommy Smith and Chambers will want him to stay as they are guaranteed a game,personally i can no longer stomach whats on show and have reluctantly cancelled my season ticket and would have done even if it was free,i will not attend attend tomorrow night and asked several casual town fans if they wanted it ,guess what -NOOO.

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