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McCarthy: Fans’ Views and Budget Talks Will Come into Summer Thinking on Future
Sunday, 26th Feb 2017 08:31

Mick McCarthy says Town fans’ view of him and the budget provided by owner Marcus Evans will come into his thinking when he considers whether to continue as Blues boss in the summer.

The 58-year-old, who celebrates his 25th anniversary as a manager next month, has no intention of retiring and is still targeting a return to the Premier League, either with Town or his next club, but during the Blues’ struggles last month and while on the receiving end of flak from supporters said he would “make a decision on what I want to do” at the end of the season.

Since then McCarthy’s standing with fans has improved with the Blues picking up impressive draws with Championship high flyers Brighton, Leeds and Reading and inflicting Aston Villa’s first home defeat of the season.

A first derby win over Norwich City in nearly eight years at Carrow Road today would significantly further enhance McCarthy’s reputation among supporters.

He says his thinking currently remains the same, although he points out he is contracted until the summer of 2018 with the club having an option for a further two seasons.

“I’ve got a year’s contract to run so I can’t just up sticks and go anywhere else,” McCarthy said.

“I love doing this job and I give everything to it. I just wondered if the fans were getting tired of me.

“Me turning up next season going ‘Hello’ and they all go ‘F–- off, we don’t want you’ — that’s not going to be any good is it?”

Two years ago Town reached the play-offs, then last year they finished seventh, despite having a budget which is around 16th in the Championship.

However, the Blues, who go into today’s East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Carrow Road in 15th in the division, have never looked like challenging this year and McCarthy says he will speak with owner Marcus Evans as he assesses his future in the summer.

He added: “I am not happy where we are. I want to be more competitive. I am not happy being mid-table and thinking there is no pressure.

“If anybody thinks ‘Oh, he’s on a nice little number down there, mid-table, it doesn’t really matter’ that is far from the truth.

“I want to know what we’re going to do, I want to know what the budget will be, I want to know if we can be competitive.

“And I want to know that if I’m going to be here the club is going to be happy with that. I’m still very ambitious. It burns brightly and I’d like to be back in the Premier League.

“It’s not going to happen this season and it might never happen again — but it won’t stop me wanting it.”


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jas0999 added 08:39 - Feb 26
I think that's a pretty fair assessment by Mick. Budget simply has to come into it. Our new loan signings have made a huge difference, but they are just loans and may not be here next season. Huws has been excellent, but Evans current budget doesn't cover the lads wage! Spending just £110k on fees will also need to improve. Interesting that Mick now highlights the budget. Perhaps after Milne tried to lay the blame at Micks door in recent interview?

In regards to the fans opinions of Mick, mine still hasn't changed. Decent past four games, but doesn't as yet make up for fourteen months of football which was frankly difficult to watch, with Mick being stubborn with his team selections. However a win today will go someway to changing my mind!
17

bluesnightorg added 08:39 - Feb 26
This all sounds about right to me. Good luck to you, Mick. I hope you are still here in August, and for all the right reasons. And I hope those right reasons start today. Come on you Blues.
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brazilblue added 08:41 - Feb 26
Let's unite behind him for the remainder of the season. If we start to look awful again we can wave the white wizard goodbye. Still remain a mick- inner as I cannot think of another available manager that would make us as competitive
12

smellmycheese added 08:41 - Feb 26
A parting of the ways would be good for all.
-3

flashblue added 08:45 - Feb 26
Looks like he will be gone. Step forward Glenn Hoddle.
-13

runaround added 08:46 - Feb 26
Club needs to set out a clear direction of the way forward & make it clear to the fans what it is before they can start to win back the fans. The side of 3 years ago is now breaking up & we need a new vibrant pacy attacking team to replace it. As promising as the last 4 weeks have been, it's been due to players we don't own so summer we're back to square one. Whether Mick & Marcus can get it right in the summer, time will tell
6

ParisBlue added 08:46 - Feb 26
Sounds like he's already decided he's off...

6

Michael11 added 08:48 - Feb 26
Finally a bit of honesty from him rather than blindly supporting Evans' mediocre budget given to him. Jewell and Keane were dreadful managers but were both backed heavily. McCarthy has had no money in 4 years and done a relatively solid job until this season. If he stays, he should be given significant money to put a competitive side out.
14

Blue_Dwarf added 08:50 - Feb 26
Whilst frustrated at Mick's stubbornness and comments belittling fans at times you do have to sympathy with the bloke. A new manager would have the same issues. String and shoe come to mind. Time for Evans to increase his budget if not fans will continue to be disillusioned.
13

christiand added 08:52 - Feb 26
If he continues to have the same approach as he has had in recent games I would be more than happy to have MM as our manager. He has to accept at times that his stubborn approach needs softening, as the enforced changes have made our play more positive and eye catching. I think the budget will be the key issue, let's be honest since January the real truth has revealed itself regarding where the blame lies. Unless ME loosens the purse strings, instead of making token efforts of signing players with no real intention of signing them, we will continue to languish in the middle to lower regions of the league. If that is the case, then fine, but I don't then expect the club to continue to charge extortionate prices for tickets for their own lack of ambition.
7

RegencyBlue added 08:53 - Feb 26
My opinion of MM hasn't changed I'm afraid.

Recent improved performances have come about because he has been forced into making changes most fans have been crying out for over a long period - Chambers at right back for the best part of three years is totally indefensible for example.

Having said that Evans is the main problem at PR and unless he completely changes his current strategy the malaise surrounding the club will continue whoever the manager is!
9

andycookguitar added 09:01 - Feb 26
He's one of the best managers at this level who seems to be able to get the best out of young players and the forgotten. I know that some of this season's has been bad but the squad has been threadbare and the money he's had to spend hasn't been enough to buy the players he wants. We are now a poor club in a league full of teams who have tens of millions to spend, we need to keep Mick he's our best chance of any sort of progression.
8

Alfiesboys added 09:07 - Feb 26
Bye bye Dino then...... but let's beat the scum first....coyb
-5

therein61 added 09:13 - Feb 26
I have been one of Micks biggest critics mainly for his stubborn selection of his favourites when better options have been benched and up until recently dire negative football, whoever is manager next season needs a decent budget Mr Evans!!!! as the last 4 years have proved we are not going anywhere apart from downwards without one!!! if it is Mick then it will be interesting to see what he does with some money if he has and things stay the same then he has to go he will have no hiding place.
4

Brownie added 09:15 - Feb 26
I agree with most on this. jas099 summed it up very well - the evidence of the 4 years is that he has taken this club as far as he can. To take us further things would need to change in the main getting young players in the team(to be fair some evidence of that over the last few months) & we need to buy rather than get loans & free transfers.
Interesting interview though - first time I have heard him talk like that.

In the meantime...sing up The Blue Army & best of luck to the lads.

COYB!
5

tractorboybig added 09:19 - Feb 26
The fickle are easily appeased. This club has played carp football for the last four years, made the playoffs by default and were totally out classed Norwich., Blame evans also but a big budget ( which will not be forth coming) won't make much difference to any progress. It's time for change on all fronts, BUT who would buy this club from Evans? Mm will go and Evans will stay.
1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:19 - Feb 26
Sounds as if it's 50-50, and perhaps a veiled dig at Evans to supply more cash. I'd still like to see what Mick could do with a better budget. Time will tell whether ITFC will sink or swim - or tread water. But today we have more pressing things to worry about. COYB!
4

LondonBlue73 added 09:24 - Feb 26
As I have said before, due to the style of football, I am not a Mick supporter. However tô all fans that want him out and voice their opinions so loudly I have a couple of key questions.
1. Is the problem Mick or are we paying for lack of investment by the owner for the past four years?
2. If Mick leaves who could we really get to replace him that could work with the resources he has?
My view remains the same, you get what you pay for and spending what we have has left us a mediocre squad, playing poor football, but clearly playing for the manager and to the best of their ability. I thank Mick for his effort, commitment and overall results. I hope the football continues to improve starting today. He hasn't deserved the personal attacks received as he is our manager. He gets slaughtered for some of his comments however who really ever stands up in public and slaughters their employer. I suggest Evans is the real issue, BUT how do you force an owner invest 6-8 million to keep us solvent each year to spend more on players?
6

Warkys_Tash added 09:40 - Feb 26
Evans should up the budget & give one more decent crack next season. However, this smells of the same situation as when Joe Royale left due to lack of transfer funds.

Mick is fed up,of the stick whilst his hands are tied. That said, he hasn't always help himself (we know was he has been at fault for, it's been largely documented & spoken about) & he must take responsibility for & address that.

We all desperately need a Derby win today & I would love Mick to get it. COYB!!
4

ClausThomsen added 09:43 - Feb 26
Well this fan wants you gone and there won't be much of a budget (especially if ME sees what you spent £35 million on at wolves). Bit of a no-brainer really Mick.

Goodbye and thanks!

PS If you wanted to be competitive you'd have sorted your team out for this season after our petering out last season. But you stubbornly kept with what wasn't working until relentless booing and a vote of confidence got you to change your ways. But have your ways changed? The rest of the season will tell us. Did you want to compete against Lincoln btw?

If you are stubborn in anything you do, you will be out-thought and out-performed by those that aren't.

Goodbye
1

blues1 added 09:43 - Feb 26
Jas0999. Yes our budget isn't what the top teams is. But again ur spouting rubbish about Huws wages not being covered by our budget. The pay cut that Huws took to come here was from what Cardiff are paying him to be here. Nothing to do with our part of that. There would have been a discussion between the clubs about what percentage of his wages each club would pay. And in order for it to go ahead he approached Cardiff to say he's take a pay cut to be able to come.
3

richnblue added 09:44 - Feb 26
Said all along during the last transfer window we will not purchase anybody because there is another plan a foot. Being let down gently here, and come the 10th May I still believe we will get the by mutual consent line..

We are in need of a young manager who wants to build a team with the backing of an owner. As is being proven, you need to spend money to get out of this division something our owner will not do to extent required - this point was proven in the Jan window this season and two seasons ago when we were so close. For me I would of gone out and shown some intent perhaps with 10 million two seasons ago in Jan whilst sitting in 6th position.

Whilst MM built a team four years ago (with his hands tied behind his back) for the first time in years and I thank him for that we are just not on it at all. When you look at the likes of Huddersfield, Sheffield Weds - both of whom have spent money to get to where they are in the table and also respected the fans view in terms of pricing to watch games.

If we were to decrease ticket prices to £15 (as Huddersfield) surely PR gets packed out each week and PR would be seen by other clubs as a proper fortress and feared by the visitors all round. Bums on seats then want to spend in the fanzone, planet blue and on the concourses..?

Evans is the issue here. Invested to much of his own money, will not get this back and we are just paddling in ever decreasing circles...
0

brittaniaman added 09:53 - Feb 26
The forced changes has certainly helped McCarthy, because we were going No where with his Skuse and Douglas Partnership week after week and of course Chambers RB.
We know that the Bulk of midfield is made up of Loanees, but that is where the main difference of play has come from in February !!!
6

blues1 added 09:59 - Feb 26
Richnblue. Ur sentiments are great. But the fact is that e en at £15 a game u wouldnt get a big enough increase in attendances to cover the costs. If u take the ave attendance at 15000 now at an average of £28 the club takes £420000. To get that amount at £15 a ticket would need 28000 fans. Do u really think we'd gain 13000 fans each game? It's possible but unlikely and would still depend on the style of football being played. Cost is only part of the reason that fans aren't attending games.
5

lightingblue added 10:01 - Feb 26
In all due respect to mick. Had nearly any money to speak. Mings grand and 8 million whatever it was. How many in recent years have done a transfer deal anywhere near as good a that. Perhaps Evans needs some kind of adviser to help move re club forward. I fully appreciate Evans is investing heavily to keep the club going, but he needs to relax the budget and give mick a few quid to give mck one last chance to manage in the big time and make that a sign of appreciation for really mick has done. His neve going to play the sexy football everybody wants, but who can with the money his given. I just have a funny gut feeling that some of our better young players could move on this summer. Dictated my mr Evans I'm afraid. Evans from the bottom of his heart needs to know what he really wants to do with the club and set down a buiness plan/strategy. And role this out clearly to his stakeholders who primarily in many ways are the people who come to a are percentage of games. With a clear outlined plan and then follow it through it then allows the paying clients to make their judgments.
2


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