Boss Mick McCarthy says he takes great pride in having been Town manager for four years - his anniversary is on Tuesday - and believes he’s done a good job in that time.

McCarthy, now the longest-serving manager in the Championship, took over at Portman Road on November 1st 2012 after Paul Jewell’s departure with Town bottom of the division, seven points from safety.

He saw the Blues to 14th place and safety in that first campaign, then ninth, sixth and the play-offs in 2014/15, and then seventh last season.

Last week’s game at Newcastle was his 200th as Blues boss - if the 4-0 home victory over Middlesbrough in February 2013 which he missed as he was unwell is included, assistant Terry Connor having been in charge that afternoon - with his overall record standing at won 79, drawn 58 and lost 63, a win percentage of 39.5 per cent.

“I take huge pride in it because quite clearly I’ve done a good job over the four years, no doubting that,” McCarthy said. “I don’t want you to say it, I’m telling you I have.

“We’re just having a bit of a tough time at the moment. Over those four years it’s maybe given me a few credits so I deserve a bit of support when I am having a tough time. No, the team’s having a tough time, not me, I’m not going home and crying about it, but I think about it all the time.

“I’m thrilled I’ve had four years, there’d be a lot of others who would like to think they’d, not ‘get’ four years but ‘earn’ four years through their job, through how they do it and what they’ve done.

“[Owner] Marcus [Evans] hasn’t just kept me, Ipswich Town haven’t just kept me because they like me, it’s because I’ve done a good job. That’s why I’m still here.”

The precariousness of managing in the Championship is illustrated by the fact that only four of the nine bosses appointed in the summer are still in their jobs.

“I think 12 months is the average tenure,” McCarthy reflected. “I was looking and there’s me and Simon Grayson, who is just behind me on almost four years.

“And the next one to me is Gary Rowett, who is two years. And then you start looking down then and I think it’s Chris Hughton, who is one year and 10 months.

“You don’t get long and you look at some clubs since I’ve been here and they’ve had six, seven or eight managers. And they’re still not doing any better than they were when I came here.”

During the recent difficult spell, which has seen the Blues drop to 17th going into today’s game against bottom club Rotherham, some fans have called for a change at the top, but McCarthy says that that doesn’t always ultimately lead to an improvement in a club’s fortunes.

“No, but it gives it a fresh start and people get happy about it for a short while and it all looks rosy and different and fresh and shiny, but whether it has a long-term impact is another matter,” he added.

After there were boos following last March’s 1-0 defeat to the Millers at Portman Road, McCarthy pondered whether some fans were "getting tired of [him]", but he believes that’s currently not a widespread feeling.

“A very small section of them, but that’s always going to be the case,” he continued. “I can’t do anything about that other than to try and win games and stop them being bored of me, unhappy with me and some wanting a change.

“But I do think that’s a very, very small minority and generally the small minority make the most noise, unfortunately.”

Thursday’s Supporters Club AGM saw McCarthy receive his stiffest questioning from fans at such an event since he’s been at Town with his style of football labelled boring by some of those present. However, there were also those who were supportive and complimentary regarding the job he has done over his four years.

Speaking ahead of the meeting McCarthy said he has been warmly welcomed to past Supporters Club AGMs.

“Generally I’ve been well-received at them and I think I should have been well-received at them as well,” he said. “And I appreciate that, I appreciate the support, of course I do.

“It’s always nicer to be getting nice things said to you, supportive things said to you, rather than the other side of it.

“But it’s part of the gig. How many managers have gone? It’s a ruthless old business. I’ve survived pretty well at it so far.”

Photo: TWTD

Penguinblue added 06:27 - Oct 29 Conceited and deluded. I think the majority of fans are sick of him - months of hoofball, favouritism, players out of position, those favoured in the face of nonsence - Gerkin/Bart, Chambers and so on. Sheer tedium, boredom and the main reason why match days are not as entertaining and fun as they should be. Any flair playere reduced to runarounds. Excuse after excuse and he says he never makes any. Contempt for fans. Imagine if he did manage to kick our way to promotion. The first thing would be for him to go - he and his favourites would be so far out of their depth. A friend of mine said Ipswich's pitch is one of the best - I said it's a shame we don't play on it. Lives off his first season when I maintain any half decent manager could have turned it around. No - please go we have had enough. McCarthy OUT

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christiand added 07:01 - Oct 29 Think you're in denial MM. The majority of us have had enough of the style of play, no plan b and the same players, who can play poorly, and still get selected. No doubting MM has done a decent job here, but not convinced he can turn things around. I think he is too one dimensional as a manager, however quite willing to be proved wrong.
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prebbs007 added 07:13 - Oct 29 Season ticket sales and attendances are you're guide Dino. We are bored of your style, you're stubbornness, you're selections and you're inability to change. So you're wrong, you did a good job initially, you're doing a dreadful one now. Go away and the crowds will return.
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geminimustang added 07:18 - Oct 29 I agree,let's get rid of MM.No money to spend,relying on freebies,youngsters and has-beens,anybody could do a better job than this man,agreed?Wait a minute,let's read that again.Ehm,then again,maybe best stick with a Manager who's prepared to work with a budget of three washers and a coat button because not many of them are!!Be careful what you wish for.
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MicksZzzTactics added 07:47 - Oct 29 DELUSION OF GRANDEUR .... at it's finest!!! Especially well demonstrated by this here one salute: "Clearly I've done a good job over the four years, no doubting that. I don't WANT YOU to say it, I'M TELLING you I have!" HaHaHaha rofl rofl rofl rofl ----- Ehhhh noooooooooooo matey!!!! In purely concise terms you have: A) generally speaking just been unequivocally very FORTUNATE with your weekly hedgehoglike anti-football here .... 'nicking' or 'mugging a goal here and there despite much more often than not being the clearly inferior offensive team on the pitch , and B) at the same time furthermore having the very good fortune of annually having some other of our league competitors (even much stronger ones on paper) with a distinctively more positively style & tactical mindset incl. a frequent going-for-the-win mentality!!! woefully UNDERPERFORMING at crucial times of the season for one reason or another ..... and ohhh speaking of which also C) having the now departed Mr. Murphy wildly & freakishly OVERPERFORMING for us in the 2014/2014 season with his mind-boggling 27 goals, and this on an all-out "Hoof, Hoof and then Hoof it some more" style and thus ultra low passing-completion-percentage team!!!!!!!!!!! So begone Dino .... your smirky arrogance ALONE is now well beyond intolerable!!!!!!!!!!!

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GiveusaWave added 07:57 - Oct 29 Hoofball: Apparently this is an attempt by a group of fans to get it included in the Webster Dictionary: "A particularly unattractive form of football practiced by Ipswich Town Football Club.It involves the hoof, a long punt up the pitch by either the goalkeeper or defenders, making sure that the ball travels at least 40 yards in the air. Typically Ipswich employ the hoof around 50-60 times per game. Spectators watching hoofball on a regular basis suffer from a variety of complaints; extreme boredom and neck ache from staring at the sky for 90 minutes are the two most common ailments". Even though we are known as the "hoofers", things could be much worse. If we look at Coventry, Sheffield Utd, Portsmouth, Scunthorpe, Blackpool...they are all in a worse state than us. Be thankful for small mercies! I do think we can snatch and grab a 1-0 against Rotherham. Important 6-pointer.

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jas0999 added 08:14 - Oct 29 Certainly can't fault his first two seasons. However the past year has been the worst I can remember for a long while in terms of boring, negative and uninspiring football, which has seen little to no entertainment. The quality of footballer at the club is generally lacking. Results poor and worse thousands have turned their back on the club. At any other properly run football club in the country, the manager would have been sacked. Sadly our club isn't properly run via our unambitious owner who frankly doesn't care. I'd be happy to see a win today - we need to, but the smugness of MM who will try to convince us how great we are will be somewhat laughable I suspect. We are playing essentially a league one team today. Even their fans think that's the case! Easy win.

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muccletonjoe added 08:20 - Oct 29 You can only form an opinion by people you talk to and most of those have had enough of his team selections his style of play and many dont even bother going anymore and have no intention of going again untill he is gone.
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Bob7881 added 08:35 - Oct 29 Most players in the Town squad are at an age where they must of come through an academy, from a young age they are taught the skills of playing football as they get older they concentrate on their best positions if good enough then go onto gain proffessional contracts. So please why do posters on here say we have to play hoof ball because of the players we have got. If a current well payed proffessional footballer can grasp the fundamentals of pass and move he should be hoofed out of the game. McCarthy you are disgrace to the modern game and yes i did complain when we got to the playoffs. lets get it right we only got there because Murphy had the one and only best season of his career. I totally believe that you do not have the tactical know how to get a team playing football. If every Manager out there followed his tactics i would imagine that premier football in England would collapse world wide viewers would switch off and sky and BT would end the contract. Please stop making excuses for him hes never been or going to be a coach/manager who wants to play football, the reason is he dont know how to.

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grumpyoldman added 08:37 - Oct 29 If you take what MM says literally, he is and I hate to say it, right. A minority of season ticket holders have given up, the crowds are down by less than half, so technically he is correct. Apart from that I don't agree with a thing he says, the last phrase sums his philosophy up "I've survived pretty well at it so far". With that at the back of his mind how will we progress.

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prebsa added 08:49 - Oct 29 Let's hope he dosent make 5 years! Or even 4 years and one month for that matter!
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phillo added 09:01 - Oct 29 Mick is a legend ...... according to him !!!!
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tractorshark added 09:02 - Oct 29 Regardless of what people think on here, the majority of fans still want McCarthy to stay. That majority is dwindling by the week but, nevertheless, it is still in his favour.
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Woodbridgian added 09:13 - Oct 29 You think there is nothing this man could say that would surprise you and then this! The arrogance of this man is unbelievable
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ChrisFelix added 09:18 - Oct 29 You have fit squad so let's see what happens. If we see Douglas & Skues together at home we will know he hasn't learnt Will accept Chambers at this level but if the premier ever happens I dread to think
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Bergholtblue added 09:19 - Oct 29 Yes McCarthy has done a good job over the 4 years but he has now taken it as far as he can go. It is time for a change.
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brittaniaman added 09:23 - Oct 29 Going around with what I hear, I dread to think what next seasons attendance will be ??? So many people are fed up with McCarthy and his arrogant I am in charge attitude ?? (yes he is) we all know that, BUT He is beginning to fall out with the fans and that he must not do !!!!!!!! Must be a win today, nothing else will do, to help his case for the Jury !!
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bluercd added 09:23 - Oct 29 Let's be careful what we wish for!!!! Sick of reading that on here!!! Mick's brand of football is dire & boring wether we win lose or draw, Mick should congratulate himself for the initial two season in terms of making us tough to beat, however this has been at the expense of entertainment, each season we're told that he'll give youth a chance but still manages to justify the selection of the older hacks or great characters rather than getting a balance between the two.... tho old be careful what you wish for brigade should consider the falling attaendances, lack of tv coverage (which brings in revenue) and look at the long term prospects on and off the field, the picture isn't rosey at all..... Having said all of that I am today bringing my 5 yr old to his first game with the hope of educating him into being a town fan.... just suspect that our "current" manager doesn't sap all creativity out of the game and make my job that bit tougher. Mick has to go, and our owner needs to show more intent to reposition our once great club.

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bluercd added 09:31 - Oct 29 Tractorshark what basis do you say that majority of fans support Mick? Majority of fans I speak with in the ground, pub, twitter etc indicate a slightly higher % want a change or will give him to Christmas to turn it around and if not then remove him.
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itfcsince1974 added 09:49 - Oct 29 I have been a fan for over 40 years and will be for another 40 years but I cannot bear to watch this idiot take our once great club down the pan. The only protest I can make that may force a change is to spend no more of my hard earned cash watching this drivel. If the crowds drop enough then surely the owner will bring about change. The last game I watched was the game against the scum and I will not go to any more games until he is gone.

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Carberry added 09:53 - Oct 29 There's a thin line between self-confidence and arrogance, MM is now way over that line. The pressure is getting to him because he is becoming a parody of himself, playing the Billy Big Boll***s role.' I'll tell you how good I am - I don't need you too. If I want your opinion I'll give it to you'. This is becoming delusion on a grand scale.
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martin587 added 10:19 - Oct 29 Over the years MM has had a good career,and at some clubs Had good results.He also did an exceptional job with the ROI. His first two seasons at Ipswich were acceptable,saving us from possible relegation then getting us into the play-offs.Since then this club has gone into decline due to insufficient funding, diabolical team selections,and not to mention style of play. Players that have joined the club,are mostly too old,injury prone,or cast-offs.Players played out of position,being too defensive at home and just happy to play for a point. The gates are dropping which is a crying shame,supporters are dissolutioned and don't know what to expect from week to week,and MM can sit there and say he has done a good job over his four years as manager.(I would question that.) Well, if that's what you call a good job I'd hate to see him do a bad job.!!! I rest my case. Under 15,000 today possibly

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ITFCGloryDays added 10:46 - Oct 29 Hmmm, from bottom of the division to 17th, positionally, within the time frame of 4 years. I'd be immensely proud of that! And I don't think now, it's, in MM's words, a small minority who are frustrated. There are many who are. If we'd seen progression of the fact of going forward from having been 7th, etc, then yeah. But we're only 7 places up from with when he took over. And happy as he seems to be of providing continual lacklustre performances. Continually, and stubbornly, of playing players out of position, of round pegs in square holes.

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Trequartista added 11:26 - Oct 29 I've never really liked him as a manager but no problem with him as a person. Reading this arrogant aren't i great story i'm not so sure about the latter.
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Taricco_Fan added 11:40 - Oct 29 Four years, eh? Hasn't it flown by?
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