Under-fire Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’ll get to the end of the season and then “make a decision” on what he wants to do. McCarthy has another 18 months left on his Portman Road contract with the club having an option for an additional two years.

With the Blues currently in mid-table and looking unlikely to either get involved in the relegation battle or the play-off fight, McCarthy was asked what he would see as success in the final months of the 2016/17 campaign.

He says getting more youngsters involved and those currently in the side established is his priority.

“There are a few of the young lads that are coming into the team at the moment and I hope they end up being regulars in the team, that would be nice,” he said.

“I would like to finish the season as well as we possibly can, with as many points, obviously.

“Kundai Benyu’s doing all right at Aldershot, have him back, have some games out of him, get Bish back in the team. I’d still like to get Myles Kenlock back in and around the team, and get some younger players, so next team we can start afresh with some of the younger ones.

“And get to that point in really good condition when then I’ll have a year left on my contract and I’ll make a decision on what I want to do.”

He says it’s about looking to the future and developing with promising youngsters coming through from the academy in numbers at present.

“That’s always been the case but we’ve not had any,” he added. “The younger players have not really been ready to play.

“Dozzer’s in now and playing, we’ve got Josh Emmanuel if he can stay in the team and we keep Myles and Bish and Kundai and get the young lads in the team, I think, in terms of next season, that would constitute success. If they all stay in the team. And, like I said, then I’ll decide what I want to do.

“I’ll decide what I want to do. I’ve got everybody telling me I should be sacked or going, I’ll be the master of my own destiny almost, unless Marcus, unless the club sack me. I can’t do anything about that. Other than that I’ll be the master of my own destiny.”

What might make him opt to move on? “I’ll find out when the season finishes, won’t I? If those players are in the team, if we finish well, if we’re in good shape. I may well want to stay on and continue doing it. If not, we’ll see.”

Despite continuing fan pressure in the wake of Tuesday’s FA Cup exit at Lincoln, McCarthy says he isn’t doubting his own ability.

“If Howard Kendall had packed it in [at Everton] when they went in that Oxford League Cup tie that they had [in 1984] and if Sir Alex had packed it in [at Manchester United when he was under pressure in 1990], I’m not putting myself up with them, but they’re the results when everybody wants you out of the door all of a sudden - you’re hopeless, you can’t do it.

“That was my 900th game as a manager. I’ve had pretty good success, me. I’d never doubt myself. I’ll leave that to other people.”

But he admits it’s hard to change fans’ minds when they decide a change is required: “Not to get results, to turn people’s opinion around, that’s always difficult. But I’m not going to stop trying.”

Photo: Action Images

arablue added 01:23 - Jan 20 “That was my 900th game as a manager. I've had pretty good success, me. I'd never doubt myself. I'll leave that to other people.” By saying what you said, you imply you have nothing to learn - after all, you had "pretty good success". A dose of humility would help. Acknowledging you are not as good as you think you are will definitely help the Club overcome its weaknesses. And that would you figure out how to get this once great club out of this mess it is currently in.

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MicksZzzTactics added 04:04 - Jan 20 @arablue My sentiments exactly! And have we ever hard "Sorry! My bad" .... or words to that effect coming out of the beyond arrogant self-perceived football genius mouth? Not to my recollection we haven't!!! (And if he ever did imply so in an interview it was definitely not sincere!) It's ALWAYS someone else's or something's fault whenever we don't get an acceptable result (Nevermind the actual performance of his favorites-laden chosen XI cause that's almost 'By Default' everything from just poor, to excruciatingly boring, to sleep-inducing, to outright embarrassing.... and if it's not it's simply what's called "The exception to the Rule"!!!) whether that is the pitch, the weather, the linesmen, the ref, Madame Fortuna, his 7+ man defense or WHATEVER ... but never ever is it remotely down to the dreaded Dino's own archaic ultra inept and ultra repetitive ("repetitive" despite having shown on innumerous occasion that they don't really work) dispositions, NEVER! I have positively never in my professional working life -- and I have worked on (and with) many continents and with many authorities -- met anyone so ****remotely****: Excessively arrogant, so generally deluded when addressing others, so 'In Denial' about his own possible flaws and 'Mea Culpa' and just all-embracing so so ultra high on his very own outstanding "Delusion of Grandeur", NEVER!!!

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austractor added 06:48 - Jan 20 Name any other manager (that would actually come here) who could do as well or better than Mick with the resources he has used? be careful what you wish for people.
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Umros added 07:26 - Jan 20 Austractor - Harry Smith ........he is the manger of my sons under 8's team in the local Sunday league......
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grumpyoldman added 08:19 - Jan 20 Again MM supporters are quoting the finances, the style of play is not down to finances it's down to the managers football philosophy, do the honestly believe Lincoln have more resources at their disposal than us. Over two matches we were outplayed by a non league team, once could be acceptable, MM as he goes to great lengths to tell us mere supporters is an experienced manager, he should have been able to come up with a formation and tactics to cope.

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austractor added 10:12 - Jan 20 Umros - well played ;) (but you and I both know he wouldnt come and we cant afford him)
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Skip73 added 10:20 - Jan 20 I can just see the headline on here on May 8th. 'McCarthy to stay on'.
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tallguy6767 added 10:29 - Jan 20 You arrogant twa# !!! I think season ticket sales will govern your destiny . Be lucky to get 10,000 attendances next season with you in charge
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scunnyblue added 13:44 - Jan 20 As a bloke i like MM. And for 2 and a bit seasons he was great for this club. Sadly since out play off semi final defeat against narrwich things have gone backwards. Personally i like the idea of him stepping down at the end of the season with his head held high rarther than a sacking. I think we owe him that at least for the 2 and a bit seasons where he achieived more than was expected.

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OldClactonBlue added 14:03 - Jan 20 No doubt in my mind Mick, you're not the man for the job.
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Swn98 added 14:24 - Jan 20 Very strange and cynical train of thought certainly bears no resemblance to your user name dose of reality.
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Swn98 added 14:27 - Jan 20 Britaniaman most managers end up getting sacked or by the cover up for getting the sack "by mutual consent".
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Swn98 added 14:32 - Jan 20 Madmousse hardly rocket science he hasn't got many fit seniors so who else can he bring in bar the youth.
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Swn98 added 14:43 - Jan 20 Agree Miles unfortunately the inhabitants of the news site can never see further than the last game when we lose, yes the last game was dross let's look forward there have been some green shoots the last few games let's see if we can get as high in the league as possible then see what happens whoever the manager I would like to see how some of the tappers on here would get on with 50% of there colleagues off sick for the last 10 months.

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sereneblue added 15:14 - Jan 20 Swn98, are you one of McCarthy's bastard offspring?
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Swn98 added 15:20 - Jan 20 No need for filth sereneblue just because some people can see a different angle there's a good chap or chappie!!
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MicksZzzTactics added 16:46 - Jan 20 @Sereneblue .... and any other poster who *perhaps* occasionally feels a tiny bit persecuted and/or is just rattled in general? :-) by certain well-known down-voting OBSESSED accounts roaming here on the news pages , accounts who otherwise rarely post a word themselves and if they happen to do its by and large not anything remotely well-founded or even half coherent ... but it's certainly all in favor of Mick of course!!! aye still even after Tuesday's globally seen 'Football-managerial Waterloo' & 'Ipswich Town FC's Embarrassment for the Ages'! Sooo in any event my ehmmm semi-reliable undercover source within MI5 informs me that the TWTD member with the username "swn98" is in fact just ONE among MANY accounts on that particular internet site which is strongly believed to belong to the quite lovely entity on the right.... ....commonly known as Fiona McCarthy! :-) LOL LOL LOL LOL

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Westy added 17:08 - Jan 20 The Club are wrong not to sack MM and he is wrong not to offer his resignation or a mutual agreement for his departure not to be reached. If I worked in a bank and stole money I would be sacked. If I was a train driver high on drink and drugs I would be sacked. Neither of these happened on Tuesday - it was not an act of dishonesty or something that endangered life. However, in business, sport or indeed any walk of life sometimes someone's position becomes untenable. Tuesday night was such an occasion. Leading up to Tuesday the teams performances hadn't even matched those of last season and we had not strung two consecutive wins together in any competition or combination of competitions and been outplayed in all areas of the field by Lincoln in the first match at Portman Road. Tuesday, though, the Club was humiliated on National television, plummeted new depths - a shame and embarrassment for the Club indelibly recorded, never to be undone. MM must take responsibility for his teams' performance. The Club's reputation was damaged and will be further damaged by his continual association with it. He is now tainted and will always be associated with it. A certain bridge was crossed on Tuesday night from which there can be no return, or should not be. Ian Milne's 'vote of confidence' and ME's too is another massive own goal by the Club whose decision making about both football and non-football issued is seriously questionable. When Season Ticket renewal notices are sent out in a few weeks people will not renew if they think MM may still be in the hot seat next season and by the time they do know, the Early Bird deadline would have passed, thrice go up so they will not renew anyway. The Club should not have allowed this situation to prevail.

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tractorboy2002 added 18:45 - Jan 20 Please don't let McCarthy decide on his future. Move him on now and find someone with ambition. What's the point in keeping him when the team has no chance of achieving promotion. All that's going to happen is more people are going to show him how they feel watching his boring team perform. The club must find investment to buy some good players like Lawrence . There can be no excuse for not finding players, just look at Lincoln they have a better team than ours and by the looks of it a much better scouting system.

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Swn98 added 19:17 - Jan 20 Mickszzzzzztactics i admire your sense of humour but alas I must inform your fan club that swn98 is in fact a hairy old full bloodied male sorry to disappoint you. On a serious note what gives you the right to tell me what I should or should not believe in, we shall see what happens when changes eventually happen as I've stated on the forum where incidently there is a far better standard of debate than the news site I feel sorry for anybody coming into the club as manager no funds an average squad of players and a fan base that turns toxic as soon as the going gets tough.

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Geddis78 added 20:07 - Jan 20 I would love to know how many esteemed contributors on this site have resigned from a well paid job. None? Why do you think McCarthy should? And how many would sack an employee where he would have to pay him loads of money for 18 months? I suspect none again. Yep, times are tough at the moment and it is times like this the true supporters have to get behind the club. Mick is right, we have a lot of good young players coming through. And let's face it, Chris Sutton is right. We are a mid table side who are mid table.

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MVBlue added 20:53 - Jan 20 SUBTEXT : I have to use kids theres no money for me from Marcus
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