Town boss Mick McCarthy says he has no intention of walking away from his Blues contract and is looking ahead to next season when he plans to rebuild, believing there need to be changes in the squad. The 58-year-old, who has a year left on his deal, with Town having an option for a further two seasons, also reacted angrily to terrace chants claiming he’s “ruined” the club during Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Fulham.

Asked whether he he ever considered walking away from Portman Road during this season’s struggles having spent the larger part of it under fire from fans, he said: “No, because I enjoy my job and as for some of the stuff about ‘Mick McCarthy, you’ve ruined our club’, what the biggest load of cobblers that I’ve ever heard in my life that is.

“I saved the club from relegation and I’ve had three top 10 finishes and the one time I have a bad season then people have turned their backs on me, which is a bit of a surprise and it’s disappointing.

“But hey ho, I’m not walking away from here, I have a year’s contract to run and unless something else is done then no, I’m not walking away from it. I’ll be here and I’ll be planning for next season and I’m looking forward to it.

“I’m looking forward to my holiday actually. I’m looking forward to getting enough points to make sure that we stay in this league, I can go away and have a break and I’ll come back full of vim and vigour again.”

In January McCarthy said he would make a decision on his future in the summer, has he already made up his mind?

“I’m not walking away from my contract, not a chance,” he reiterated. “I’m not walking away from a job, which I see it as, and it’s a good job.

“I’ve no intention because I’d like to build it again. I don’t want to walk away, I’m not walking away, no way.

“I’d like to have it again as we had it two years ago, even last season. Saved them from relegation is what I did, then we had three top 10 finishes, and this year it’s been bad.

“I don’t think it’s justified what’s gone on, to be honest with you. My intention is to stay here and build another team, and hopefully it’s as successful as it was when we finished sixth. And if that pisses off a lot of people, so be it.”

Put to him that he has said he wouldn’t be happy if he turned up on the opening day of 2017/18 and season ticket sales were down to 10,000 - as it seems likely they will be - and that was down to him he wouldn’t be happy, he added: “Marcus might not be happy with that either. That might be the case, but I seem to remember there were 20-odd thousand in here most weeks when we finished sixth and guess who that was down to.

“My objective is to get it back to that. And you know what, if it’s only on a one-year contract, so be it, it’s a one-year contract. Not a chance would I be drive out of anywhere. No way.”

Regarding the ongoing criticism from fans and in the media, he said: “I don’t read the media, that’s for sure, any of it. I don’t listen to the radio station, I certainly not locally. I talk to them but don’t listen to them. You might think that that’s nonsense but I don’t.

“Unless I put ear plugs in I can’t do anything about the crowd on a Saturday or a Monday or whenever we’re playing.

“I guess I have to be a bit brass-necked about that and just understand but, as I just said, apart from ‘ruining the club’, that’s the biggest load of nonsense I’ve ever heard in my whole life.

“It’s been tough this year, it has. We’ve not been good. And it’s sad that a lot of people have turned on me and turned on the players but they’re going to have stick me out for another five games anyway.”

He continued: “If Arsene Wenger can get stick, Alex Ferguson got stick at one stage, he was getting vilified by his own punters and Sir Bobby could and everybody else, it’s part of the gig.

“You [the media] keep asking me about it and I talk about it but I’m not whinging about it or talking about it every day. I come in and I do my job.”

He says not all fans have been on his back this season: “I’ve had some nice comments, nice letters and nice support from people. And, of course, the ones who come [and] were at it from very early on in the game on Saturday, I can’t do anything about that. As I keep telling you, win games and that stops.

“There’s not a lot [you can do], play well and win games. We’ve not done enough of that this season. But I don’t think it constitutes some of the vitriol which is going about, but hey ho.”

Looking ahead to the summer and next season, he says the playing staff will need refreshing whoever the manager is.

“The squad’s going to have to change,” he admitted. “You said ‘Whoever’s charge’, at this moment in time it’s me that will be in charge.

“If that’s the case, things have to change, of course. It can be that you’re with players too long and eventually maybe they need to change and the manager needs to change.

“If for some unknown reason it’s somebody else, then it will change because they’ll want different players.”

He added: “Players under contract, there’s not a great deal that they can do. They can ask to move, they can make noises towards that, they can stamp their feet and pull their hair out and tell their agent what to do.

“But if they’re under contract there’s not really anything they can do if a club wants to keep them.

“There may well be some that want to move on, there will be some will move on. There will be some I want to move on, and some I don’t want to change. That’s going to be a natural process that in the summer, I think.”

Are there players who are out of contract who he is yet to make a decision on? “They’re all my thoughts and I’ll keep them to myself for now.”

McCarthy feels he and his squad have done well in previous seasons having worked with a budget which is among the lowest in the division. Will he have to ask owner Marcus Evans for more money as he looks to rebuild?

“I’ve performed particularly well, and the players have, with what we’ve got and sometimes you have to deal with it,” he insisted.

“And I’ve never complained about that. My conversations with Marcus will be exactly that, with Marcus.”

The finances of the Championship have changed significantly in the two years since the Blues finished sixth, does McCarthy believe it’s now tougher for Town to hit those heights?

“It is,” he agreed. “I’m glad I didn’t say that because it might seem like an excuse. I’m glad you said it. [But that is the reality], absolutely it is.”

Managers at all the established Championship clubs without parachute payments or owners investing around £20 million a year are working in much the same situation as he has been, aren’t they? “They are and trying to get results and some, with their budgets, are doing well.

“I’d say Cloughy’s doing well [at Burton], Barnsley have done brilliantly, they’ve come up with momentum from League One.

“Huddersfield are doing great. David Wagner’s got some good players, some good loan players, he used the German market, he knew it and he’s done really well with it. Fantastic, as I did in my second season, to be honest.”

So, it can still be done? “I’d say so, but as you said, it’s a lot harder now.”

Photo: TWTD

midastouch added 17:00 - Apr 12 He's had 3 top 10 finishes, woopy doo! That's like Del Boy boasting Rodney had a GCE in Art!
22

Bluetone added 17:00 - Apr 12 McCarthy you poor pathetic selfish deluded specimen if you don't walk away then many, many fans will, not that you give a toss for the club and even less for the fans. If you were half the Manager you think you are you'd be twice as good as you really are. However you really are the greatest I, I, I, in the game. To compare yourself to the likes of the great Sir Bobby, Sir Alec Ferguson and Arsene Wengeris beyond belief is there no ending to your deluded arrogance.

12

Suffolk_n_Good added 17:01 - Apr 12 Ok then, looks like he's staying, I WILL NOT BE ATTENDING PR AGAIN UNTIL HE HAD GONE, whether that be 1 year, 2 years or 5 years, I'll still follow ITFC, but I cannot support this man, it is with a heavy heart, but that's my decision
27

arnielowestoft added 17:09 - Apr 12 Dinosaur
4

mojo added 17:13 - Apr 12 When he joined I seem to recall he said if we were relegated we were beneath him and he wouldn't stay. Given we look like we will survive by the skin of our teeth this time around, is there really much difference. He can't have his cake and eat it surely. If he is going to stay he needs some serious financial backing, needs to implement a change in playing style and seriously lay off supporters.

2

delias_cheesy_flaps added 17:20 - Apr 12 Enough is enough, the temerity of MM knows no bounds, he truly thinks he has no blame reading between the lines!! Sorry but I'd rather waste my money down the Crown Meadow than endure another season of drivel ME will not give MM cash to splash and even if he did I seriously doubt MM has the footballing pedigree to exploit talent only suppress it!!!
10

ChrisFelix added 17:23 - Apr 12 Renewed my ticket for the current season as I expected so much more. Sorry but I'm going to wait this time to see what Evans & Mick do
3

StowTractorBoy added 17:23 - Apr 12 Am not at all surprised by this statement and I will support Ipswich Town Football Club whoever is in charge and will never stop going to watch my favourite team. I have to respect other points of view but I just could not stop going. I agree this season has been pretty awful but we have to be realistic with our expectations. We are not a big Club we do not benefit from parachute money we don't have a mega rich oil tycoon and there have been many far bigger fish than ITFC that have dropped into the 3rd tier. Hopefully MM will learn from this season with his brand of football as will Marcus Evans and we can move forward together.

0

phillo added 17:24 - Apr 12 Aging 30+ Defensive CM's all round the country are rubbing their hands in glee over the news Mick wants to "re-build"; whilst young ITFC Acadamy products schooled in attacking/positive football by the excellent Acadamy Staff prepare themselves for further "loan"/development spells at non-league sides until they are "proper blokes" ..... and all involved in the Acadamy join the fans in a silent weep😢😢

17

dirtyboy added 17:25 - Apr 12 If he stays, the poor man needs a decent budget. Feel sorry for him. He speaks the truth, people just don't like hearing it.
-16

happybeingblue added 17:27 - Apr 12 I knew he wasnt going anywhere DOH!, blimey well based on the current 11 where do we start??? apart from Bart id say a new back 4,3 new midfielders so apart from Dids and bart realistically speaking we need 9 new first team players as the rest are not good enough to get near the top 6 NOT A CHANCE, the jury is still out on webster can he remain fit as he hasnt had much luck the last few years , i personally think the defending has been awful this season and if it wasnt for Bart we would be in the bottom 3,

9

alfromcol added 17:30 - Apr 12 Hopefully this is all about Mick positioning himself for a pay-off. To resign and walk away would cost him a wad of dosh so he is unlikely to do that - who would? Really, really gutted if Evans allows him to carry on next season. The man's a PR disaster, do Town have a PR manager. If they do he should seriously rein in MM's rants, it's costing revenue.
9

BlueSmith94 added 17:30 - Apr 12 I like the fact he isnt walking away from this, but If he is going to stay he needs to change his playing style and tactics! Needs to go into every game to win and play the youngsters! I do like Mick and honestly there aren't many better manager out there. He isn't ruining the club, evans is! So it is nonsense people are laming him! He has had next to no money, and is trying to build a team to challenge for promotion against teams that are spending millions! Given money and the using the youth acadamy I think he can do a good job, but there is a massive rift between Mick and a majority of the fans, which doesnt look like changing unless he changes his style! But I will support Ipswich town regardless!

-4

Seasider added 17:32 - Apr 12 This seems a very bullish interview,so does this mean that McCarthy has already had his chat with Evans and has been given a vote of confidence? I don't think so otherwise he would have said;least I hope not.Recall him saying recently that he has phone conversations(not face to face meetings apparently)and Mr Evans had mentioned that things were not going too well for him(MM).In the same interview I recall him talking about his boss being very fair;but it did not seem to me that he had unqualified support,although cant recall exact words. No,it seems that the Dino is setting out his stall to take as much dosh as he can from this club.I would imagine that trying negotiate a lesser figure than another seasons full salary would be out of the question, knowing what a bellicose.A bit like negotiating with another Yorkshireman Arthur Scargill,also from Barnsley I believe. Its down to whether Evans is prepared,or can afford, to pay MM off.Or perhaps he wants him to stay?Who knows;although I am hopeful that the rumour about the Dutch Manager is not completely unfounded. If McCarthy stays I think we can safely assume that the number of season tickets sold will be down once again,and those fans that remain will have to endure more of the same. We shall see!

17

markyatetractor added 17:33 - Apr 12 Just watched the UEFA Cup sequence on the ipswich website and it almost seemed like it was fantasy land but it just goes to show where we were in those days.Easy to look back but hopefully the future is brighter.I actually sold Kevein Beattie his wedding suit ! happy days !!
3

Town_Jewells added 17:34 - Apr 12 The club and/or McCarthy seem intent on throwing something provocative at us every week at the moment.
2

jas0999 added 17:36 - Apr 12 Another arrogant interview, isolating himself from the fans even further. Having said that, I don't believe he is ultimately at fault for destroying the club. Marcus Evans has that on his shoulders. I can't think of many owners who would tolerate this current situation. Watching as fans walk away. Letting the manager dictate their future. Mick would have been sacked at most other clubs. Additionally, MM did save us from relegation and took us to sixth. BUT the last eighteen months hasn't been good. Unacceptable. Therefore the news he is staying is very disappointing and means reluctantly I'll have to reconsider my season ticket renewal options. Very much towards no now. Shame.

12

itfchorry added 17:36 - Apr 12 No class and deluded - Just resign - McCarthy OUT
14

notleyblue added 17:40 - Apr 12 Absolutely hate this man's style of football.
21

ipswich4life added 17:40 - Apr 12 of course he wasnt going to walk,knows he wont get another job as big as ipswich again,he'll be sacked tho no doubt about it.
1

DoseOfReality added 17:42 - Apr 12 Did we expect anything else ..?? He will go alright but he wants to drain every last penny from his lucrative contract which he has failed to deliver on. Evans sort the club out or clear off.. It's up to you.. Do something coz this club has been falling apart around you for the last 2 years. I stopped spending money on ITFC ages ago & it was like therapy .. I don't feel exploited, I don't feel lied to, I don't feel frustrated at having wasted another Saturday, I don't feel embarrassed listening to the managers excuses, I don't plan my free time around a fixture list, I don't have to try and convince my son and daughter to go and knowing full well they will be bored, ... there are countless other benefits of walking away ... But the trouble is I do till care, ITFC is a part of me and I can't shake the feeling of being let down. Not because we lose but because we don't try to win. There is nothing more boring the football that has been served up at PR for the last 2 years. Lincoln away was arguably the worst performance on TV ever by a full time professional club, conceding to Forest in 6 seconds was probably a world record for fastest goal conceded considering we actually started the match in possession with the kick off. Lastly .. I don't care about the season ticket prices because I won't be going and nor will my family

19

christiand added 17:43 - Apr 12 I doubt we'll get many for home games knowing this information, I reckon gates will be well under 10,000. MM has looked disinterested himself this season and has really tried to p*ss many of us off, which he has done successfully. The thought of his dour, negative long ball crap is enough to tip anyone over the edge. Oh and how can I forget that he never drops his 'proper' blokes regardless of performance. His approach to games is outdated and he needs to go, we're becoming a joke of a club and he is a big reason for it! Yes you saved us from relegation - Brilliant, but it's what we are doing now which you are judged on and it's pretty woeful. The majority don't want MM, I just don't see how he thinks he is going to turn that Ill feeling around because as a coach he can't do much else than what he is doing with his hoofball tactics.....just confirms the sorry state the club is in that he is calling the shots - show some balls ME and do the decent thing for all of us and spare our sanity!

22

itfctrent added 17:50 - Apr 12 Well I am very disappointed in this announcement, and it seems the majority of us on here are as well. It appears he has already made his mind up about staying, and therefore so I have with regards to my season ticket. From what I understand, in Mick's world it is OK for him to claim the supporters know nothing about football, refer to them as punters and feel they should be grateful to have him there every week boring the pants of us. However it is not fair for anyone to criticise him!! Well I am cool about that and accept he has the right to do what he wants. I also have the right to do what I want and that is to spend my leisure time in more worthwhile and pleasant places (cricket season has started!) than Portman Road not listening to a foul mouthed moron taking his paying customers completely for granted. So draw your own conclusions, but the article says it all, none of this is of my making and I will only leave on the P45 gravy train. If Marcus Evans wants success for ITFC, which is debatable, he must recognise what is going on and take swift and decisive action. Dithering at this stage will mean yet another miserable season in the also rans and possible more to follow. We all know what is required and it will be a massive rebuild from bottom to top. The stage is yours Mr Evans.

14

armchaircritic59 added 17:56 - Apr 12 A reasonable assessment from StowTractorBoy, in general, i think. However there is one statement i'd like to take some issue with. "We are not a big club". I think that would depend on what someones idea of a big club is. If it's anything to do with potential home attendances, then by my calculations, this club is as big as half the current Premier League! You could also add that we were among the "founder members" of said league, still have the best home record of all English clubs that have competed in Europe, are the only club to have supplied more than one England manager and i believe are the only club to have been promoted from what is now the championship and go on to win what is now the Premier League in Successive seasons. Yes, a lot of this is in the past, but only in my view due to chronic miss management of the club at most levels for years!

8

Ipswichbusiness added 17:57 - Apr 12 Imagine that Mr Evans did give him a large budget, which players would want to come here? Consider; 1) the club is geographically a bit out on a limb, not in or immediately adjacent to a big city, 2) we have struggled badly this season, probably just about avoiding relegation, 3) the player and/or his agent is likely to have seen the Lincoln debacle, 4) a significant part of the fan base is in open revolt, 5) the manager is on a one year contract and that only because the Chairman won't spend the money to pay him off.

2

Blogs 296 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls