Town boss Mick McCarthy says he knows nothing of reported Wolves interest in his skipper Luke Chambers and guesses that the link came about as his contract is currently in its final six months, although the Blues manager points out the club have an option to keep their captain for an additional year.

“I was asked that question after the QPR game,” McCarthy said when quizzed on the Wolves link. “I don’t know whether there is any interest at all.

“I think it’s maybe more to do with the fact that he hasn’t been given a new contract as yet or been offered one and perhaps the agent’s putting it around. If that’s the case, fair dos.”

He added: “The club has an option on him anyway for next season, so that ultimately will be down to the club, down to [owner] Marcus [Evans] and the club whether they take that option up.

“If somebody has an option I guess it’s up to the club to take it up if and when they want to do it.

“I think every player in the club has that option, I guess that’s why Marcus and the club put that in in the first place, so they can take it up at their discretion.”

He says he leaves the contract side of things down to owner Evans to sort out: “Pretty much.”

Asked if he’d like to offer his 31-year-old skipper, who was signed on a Bosman by former boss Paul Jewell in the summer of 2012 after he had left Nottingham Forest, an extended deal, he said: “I’ve spoken to Chambo about that, he’s important to me as captain.”

Photo: TWTD

hoppy added 07:20 - Jan 14 "Asked if he'd like to offer his 31-year-old skipper, who was signed on a Bosman by former boss Paul Jewell in the summer of 2012 after he had left Nottingham Forest, an extended deal, he said: “I've spoken to Chambo about that, he's important to me as captain." I thought in Chambo's interview he'd said that he hadn't heard anything about a new contract?
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Tractorboy1985 added 07:28 - Jan 14 See what I mean... 'you will have to ask Marcus' ... 'Marcus does this.. Marcus does that' ... a proper run football club has a chairman who holds the funds.. then a manager who identifies his targets and gets them through the door.. clearly you do not have what it takes Mr Evans as your lack of transfer business in the past 4 years has been laughable.. big loan fee here.. big loan fee there! Loans are NOT what we want! If you had any ambition at all you would be phoning Leicester City and saying 'how much do you want for Tom Lawerence??? But no.. he will go on to play for another championship side next year and you will draft in yet another loan and so on season after season! This man clearly has NO idea how to run a football club or what it takes to make progression! 10 years at the helm now and we are in the worst mess in my life time (31 years) I am so passionate about ITFC but whilst this man continues to milk us fans and we have a manager who plays such dire football I just can't go and put myself through it.. Mick has to go in my opinion.. the club is so stale but clearly any new manager coming in will have their hands tied from day one.. no funds offered for new players and a very incompetent owner! Here's hoping Ipswich Town rise again but I'm not holding my breath......

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Len_Brennan added 07:32 - Jan 14 It seems clear to me from that that he's going alright. Mick had every chance to say that he won't be leaving & that he has told Marcus/ the club to sort out the contract etc, but instead it's all very arms length replies to the questions. It's up to the club & he doesn't get involved in the contracts - as if he'd have no involvement in deciding who gets a new deal, sure.

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Kikapu added 07:50 - Jan 14 Mick is an experienced manager. He knows how to answer simple questions.
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blues1 added 08:57 - Jan 14 No tractorboy. The way it works, is that McCarthy identifies who he wants and how much he thinks we should offer forcthst player, then Evans does the deal. Not McCarthy who gets the deal done at all. And despite people's misconception the fact is that Evans has signed more players than any of his predecessors. And spent many millions more too. While it's frustrating for us fsns that he has stopped throwing money at it ( something he did for 3 managers and got us nowhere), he's decided to take a more pragmatic approach. The only reason fans are against him right now is down to the way we're playing and lack of results. And that's down to the manager, no1 else. He has, by his own admission, the best squad he's had since he's been here but theyvarent performing. And that's down to him not allowing them too, poor tactics and team selections, etc.

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Wickets added 09:06 - Jan 14 What about Douglas his contract is up in the summer, anyone in for him or are we going to offer him another year!!
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bedsitfc added 09:23 - Jan 14 Ok MM might not get involved in contracts but surely he says to Marcus "I want to keep his player so we need to sort contract"
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martin587 added 09:34 - Jan 14 This looks a bit fishy to me.MM says he is unaware of any interest from Wolves,and chambers says he is fed up as a further contract has not been discussed. Looks like he is on his way then.!
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tractorshark added 09:50 - Jan 14 Much as I like Luke as a competitor, there is no room for sentiment in football. I think he is harshly derided on this site, he tries his best each week, is better than most give him credit for and is a very good captain. But he's 31 and not going to improve. If we are to move on next season, he would be back-up for Smith and Webster, and whoever the right-back is. But he'd be on relatively big money to do that, so is that the right thing to do? I'm not convinced. My gut feeling tells me this is the start of Evans having a summer rejig and that may well include the departure of McCarthy.

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Mark added 09:52 - Jan 14 I think Chambers is an important club captain, but he turns 32 in September so how effective can he be at right-back as he gets holder and would Emmanuel be a better option next season? I guess Chambers wages are pretty high by comparison, although I worry about releasing him given how few leaders we seem to have at the moment.
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jas0999 added 10:06 - Jan 14 This yet again all boils down to the unambitious Evans. I suspect he will wait til the end of the transfer window to see whether he can sell Chambers for a small fee. Cash in, asset strip, but not provide funds to bring in anyone any better if at all.
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portman_blue added 10:27 - Jan 14 I was hoping for a bit of honesty in this story - the headline on my email was truncated to 'McCarthy Knows Nothing' !!!
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henryblue added 10:29 - Jan 14 Praying Chambers goes, completely useless at right back and just another average centre back with very little footballing ability. Was a good leader at the peak of Mick's helm but he's just become another player keeping us from moving forward now. Start playing Emmanuel who actually dares make runs and doesn't make embarrassing launches into the crowd at every opportunity.

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Lathers added 10:35 - Jan 14 At the end of the season we clear out all 30+ year olds (aka most of the team) filling gaps with homegrown talent and bringing in 3/4 key signings (probably from league one) who command transfer fees and who we mold the team around. A completely fresh start is what ITFC need for next season.
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TimmyH added 11:20 - Jan 14 Really not bothered if he's on his way if he continues at RB, but that's largely Mick's fault not chambers. IF he gets an extension and with the possibility of Berra going after this season he should be put back into the centre or Smith should, the defense has by and large been fairly poor this season but MM refuses to make changes. only if injuries occur.
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Carberry added 16:23 - Jan 14 McCarthy putting distance between himself and the owner by the sound of it.
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