Boss Mick McCarthy has sought to allay fears that the Blues could lose loanee Tom Lawrence in January with Derby, Norwich, Reading, Cardiff and Wigan all reported to be keen on the 23-year-old Leicester man. However, he admits that Town would have little chance of signing the Wales international on a permanent basis in the summer if the Championship’s bigger guns make moves in the summer.

Asked about the claims that Lawrence, one of the Blues' most impressive performers during the first half of the season, could move elsewhere in January, McCarthy said: “He’s here for the season, we took him on a season-long loan.”

But the Blues manager admitted that Town couldn’t compete in the summer if they were looking to sign Lawrence, who has 18 months left on his Foxes contract, on a permanent basis and some of the other clubs linked firmed up their reported interest.

“No, as simple as that,” he admitted. “They tell me that the three lads at Sheffield Wednesday up front are earning about 100 grand [a week] between the three of them. Well, that sort of level is not us, we’re not doing it.

“I think we all have to understand that. I’m the one that’s grasped that right from the very start.

“My mantra’s been the same, I know the terms and conditions, we get on with it. Sometimes it frustrates me, but then it gives me a great deal of pleasure when we go to Sheffield Wednesday and places like that and win.

“But if Derby, if Norwich, if other clubs are interested he won’t be coming here because they’ll pay a bigger transfer fee and he’ll get more money I’ve no doubt.”

Do Town need to start spending more money in order to compete? “It doesn’t always work, does it but you’ve a better chance. As Mr Burr, my first chairman [at Millwall], used to say when he wore his sheepskin gloves.

"Somebody asked whether it was superstition and he said, ‘Yes, of course it is, especially when it’s 25 degrees out’. They asked, ‘Did it work?’ and he said 'It tends to work better with a good team than it does with a bad team'.

“So, if you can get better players by spending money and giving them more wages, then quite clearly you’ll have a better team.

“But, as I’ve said, we’re not going to be going out and spending £2 million or £3 million and giving people £20,000 a week in wages.

"It’s not happening, so we have to get on with what we’ve got and do the best we can. And I’ve been particularly good at that over the years.”

Photo: TWTD

The_Romford_Blue added 06:14 - Dec 30 Evans out..
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BrettenhamBlue added 06:15 - Dec 30 Good outfield player. If he moves to Norwich in the Summer will be gutting.
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Adam91T added 06:25 - Dec 30 If we could sign him, that would be incredible. Best outfield player in the team by a long way at the moment. That said, I know it's unlikely. So, whatever happens, wherever he ends up, I'll wish him all the best. Unless he ends up at Norwich.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:28 - Dec 30 Naarwich look to (hopefully) have blown it this season, but I fear they will be back in force next season. Still, we have plenty of things to worry about in the present.....
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pennblue added 07:50 - Dec 30 So, if you can get better players by spending money and giving them more wages, then quite clearly you'll have a better team" It's not rocket science is it. You just have to look at Man City and Chelsea in the prem. We need someone who can invest more in the team, it is as simple as that.
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jas0999 added 07:52 - Dec 30 Another depressing read. Frankly we have been outfought by most clubs when it comes to wages. Unambitious Evans doesn't care and is more interested in selling assets.
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Woodbridgian added 07:54 - Dec 30 Surely if Mr Evans is true to his word in his program notes today about developing a group of young players for the future then surly Lawrence should be his number one priority, if he's prepared to see him leave then his comments are bulls**t. If you mean it Marcus no better way to show it !
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hoppy added 08:14 - Dec 30 Defeatist attitude. If this is the player that we've been developing this season, and can be a big part in the jigsaw and make a difference, surely you say you'd do what you can to look to keep him long term, and "we'll see what can be done in the summer" instead of conceding without trying? How about speaking to the player as well and if he's enjoying being here, selling the bigger picture to him of what you're aiming for, and then go from there to try and sort some kind of deal out?

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rfretwell added 08:38 - Dec 30 Why would Leicester want to see him leave them ??? They are aware he is doing very well in the Championship and is potentially a fine Premier League attacker. Expect them to offer him a new contract.
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martin587 added 08:44 - Dec 30 Well youv'e just about banged the nail on the head MM.IF we cannot afford to spend 2Mill on a player then it looks like "gathering scraps"again from hand me downs.If this is called progression we are never going to get promoted under this regime unless a miracle happens.I just dread to think what the season ticket sales will be like next season.
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muccletonjoe added 09:37 - Dec 30 You have to concede that if a club with the benefit of parachute payments is after lawrence , we cannot compete with that. I dont think you can blame evans or mm for that. Opting to play skuse and douglas is another thing altogether though.
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Mark added 09:43 - Dec 30 Yet ITFC fans are asked to pay top prices for match tickets to watch our team of cheapies. Everything feels so defeatist at the moment. Depressing.
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Wickets added 10:01 - Dec 30 And i've been particularly good at that over the years. Does this mean we will continue to be boring? If so what where last fridays pre match comments about!
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prebsa added 10:23 - Dec 30 After seeing the way Mick plays football he will want to leave Town at the earliest opportunity!
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Kikapu added 12:03 - Dec 30 A significant number of Championship club owners will have to pull out of the League to form their own ''Premiership'. The financial gap is too big now.
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heathen66 added 13:19 - Dec 30 It is not all about getting the best players in and paying them lots of money. It is about getting a 'team' together and putting the pieces of the jigsaw in the correct places, as Leicester did last season. They were not the best 18 players in the Premier League or the highest paid, but they all fitted part of a jigsaw, with players in their best positions knowing what they had to do and playing to their strengths. We need better players from the lower leagues who have pace and are hungry to advance their careers such as Webster and Bialkowski (not sure about the pace bit for Bart, but you get the idea). You only have to watch a few of the EFL games to realise there are players available, but you do need a manager with tactics and a vision, and not continue what they have been doing for the last 20 years...whether it works or not !!!

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 14:00 - Dec 30 More to the point we should be PRODUCING players of this standard. That is how Sir Bobby and King George and even Mr Lyall did it. That we have failed in this regard is at least as big a reason for failure as money spent. We coped with lack.of funding before. We need to do it again.
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BlueSmith94 added 14:18 - Dec 30 In a shocking turn of events, he may actually want to join us rather than get paid a higher wage... we can dream! If not we will find someone else!
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:19 - Dec 30 that statement jus about sums it up at ITFC, the only direction we are headed under present regime is down
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