Town managing director Ian Milne says boss Mick McCarthy will be given funds with which to replace striker Daryl Murphy, who is set to join Newcastle United for £3 million.

Speaking on Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch at lunchtime Milne said, without confirming Murphy’s impending departure, that if a significant player were to move on before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Wednesday, McCarthy would be handed the funds with which to replace that member of the squad.

“[Owner] Marcus [Evans] has always said that there are funds for the right player, so there would be, if that happened,” he said.

“It’s a discussion which is going on, I’m sure, between Mick and Marcus to see what happens next, if these things do happen.”

Speaking about the Murphy deal after the game, McCarthy added: "It is [good business for the club] and we’ll reinvest that.”

The Blues MD is anticipating a frantic few days before the window closes: “Mick said yesterday he expects it to be a busy time between now and Wednesday and our club secretary [Sally Webb] will be hard at it, he’s threatened. We are expecting changes.”

Meanwhile, Milne says it’s not for him to comment on the ongoing Rio Olympics ticketing controversy involving one of Evans’s other companies THG Sports.

“The club, the same as The Artists Partnership, a theatrical agency which is part of the group, we’re run as different divisions and Ipswich Town Football Club is a different division,” he added.

“It’s really for THG to comment, we’re not involved with THG at all. So I haven’t really got any more news than the press releases they’ve provided.”

However, it’s still his belief, as it was a week ago, that contrary to comments made by the Brazilian police, no arrest warrant has been issued for Evans’s arrest.

“That’s my understanding,” he said. “It’s a very difficult system the Brazilian system, it’s very complex.

"The police have a lot of latitude in what they say down there and it’s just difficult to understand what is actually happening, quite honestly, so we’re not getting quite the right balance of truth that we normally expect from the UK or Ireland or wherever.”

Elsewhere, Kevin Mallon, the THG director whose arrest triggered the Rio police’s investigation, is set to be released from prison on bail after a ruling by Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice.

THG said in a statement: “Following intensive efforts by our lawyers in Brazil, THG welcomes the news that our colleague Kevin Mallon is shortly to be released from preventative detention in Rio.

“In line with our previous statements on this matter THG has welcomed the public inquiry in Ireland into these matters and believes that the company and its executives will be vindicated when all of the evidence is reviewed.

“We will continue to work to secure Kevin's full release and his return to Dublin. Meanwhile, THG is providing full support to Kevin and his family and will continue to seek to ensure their privacy at this difficult time.”

Photo: ITFC

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