Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’d go back to his former club Sunderland “in a heartbeat” - if he was out of contract.

McCarthy was in charge at the Stadium of Light between 2003 and 2006, leading the Black Cats, who sacked their latest manager Simon Grayson on Tuesday, to the Championship title in 2004/05.

Asked whether he’d go back to the Wearsiders, he responded: “I’m contracted here. Maybe if I was out of contract. Oh yeah, if I was out of contract and I was free and available, yes I’d go back in a heartbeat, I loved my time.

“But I’m not out of contract, I’m not free and available, so no, I wouldn’t be going back.”

After it was suggested that Sunderland making an approach for him wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility, he added: “Well, that’d please a few people, wouldn’t it, if they did, I suppose.

“No, with all the managers that are out of work? It’s not in my interest anyway. My interest is to get a result against Preston, to preserve my record here and what I’ve done and for us to start moving back up the league.

“I’m not looking for any other jobs. I’m not interested in that. But when I’m free and available, yes, I will be looking for another job and Sunderland would interest me, of course it would.”

McCarthy is contracted to Town until the end of the season with the club having an option to keep him for two further years.

Speaking last month, the 58-year-old said it wasn’t a fait accompli he’d stay with the Blues beyond the end of the season even if he were to be offered further terms, while dismissing suggestions that Town would be his final job in football.

Photo: TWTD

northstand78 added 14:47 - Nov 3 I'd pay for the taxi if you went now...
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BlueHarwich added 14:48 - Nov 3 Start the car!!!
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midastouch added 14:57 - Nov 3 When I last looked the bookmakers only had him as an outsider to get the job, in fact you can get 40/1 with WH at the time of writing. Unfortunately there are others that are much more fancied to in terms of current odds to get the job: https://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/sunderland/next-permanent
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julesbda added 14:59 - Nov 3 Christmas could come early !
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Karlosfandangal added 15:02 - Nov 3 Better the devil you know, No matter who can in for Mick, if we were not top of the league and winning every game, they would still have a go, Look at the crap Burley had to put up with.
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Lathers added 15:06 - Nov 3 It will be interesting to see what happens if Sunderland do make an approach. Mick knows he's not loved here anymore, but he's too stubborn to go unless he's approached. Personally I think it would be a good move for all parties if he went back up to Wearside. He could save them from relegation, be a hero again and dine out on their great escape for years to come. And how many of his current 'favourites' would he try to sign in January...

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muccletonjoe added 15:19 - Nov 3 Forget it.
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1RWR added 15:19 - Nov 3 Queue the onslaught!
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therein61 added 15:23 - Nov 3 In the sixties several men carried a large blanket round the stadium to collect for worthy causes please resume this practice Saturday so that we can chip in to pay his contract up!!
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ArnieM added 15:30 - Nov 3 Well if that isn't a co e and get me message to Sunderland, I'll eat my hat. We couldn't get that lucky could we??
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vanmunt added 15:34 - Nov 3 Don't let the door hit you on the arse on the way out.
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ChestnutSe added 15:34 - Nov 3 Sometimes a really negative anti Mick post might get 20 or 30 votes. I think the vast majority think Mick is doing a pretty decent job with the resources at his disposal. There will always be a vocal minority that think change is the answer.
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BullardsMagicMullet added 15:36 - Nov 3 Come on Evans, make him out of contract!
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Lathers added 15:44 - Nov 3 Do you really think that ChestnutSe? He's kept us in the Championship for 5 years, boring us to death with awful tactics and football, and our wage bill is in the Top 11 in the division. Nigel Clough keeping Burton up last season was doing a pretty decent job with the resources available.
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carlo88 added 15:56 - Nov 3 My god though he doesn't half get asked some banal questions in these press conferences, surprised he's not falling asleep.
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CalneBlue added 15:59 - Nov 3 Coral have him at 25/1 - not a bad bet? Not sure the Sunderland fans would be so keen mind you.
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Blue_Moses added 16:09 - Nov 3 Can't wait for the chants tomorrow, please take him.
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cat added 16:10 - Nov 3 Looks like MM's potentially putting himself in the shop window, don't think that would be a two way street though, as the Mackems I've spoke with had nothing but sympathy for us. From my perspective, with Sunderlands current predicament and MM's brand of football, it would probably “suit all parties” as Lathers states.
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chorltonskylineblue added 16:12 - Nov 3 In 2015/16 (latest available stats as far as I can see) 7 clubs spent less on staff costs than us: https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/national/football-finance-championship-club Birmingham - still in this league, but struggling more than us Blackburn - League One Charlton - League One Huddersfield - Premier League MK Dons - League One Preston NE - still in this league and doing about the same as us Rotherham - League One There's several on that list that spent double what we did and they're still in this division.

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Taricco_Fan added 16:14 - Nov 3 Whatever anyone's opinion of McCarthy and the job he's doing here, it's clear as day that his heart's not in it anymore. His recent comments suggest he will almost certainly be gone in May and is just riding-out the remainder of his contract. A manager committed to his club should never talk openly of joining another club "in a heartbeat" whether he thinks it or not. As others have said, a 'come and get me' plea if ever there was one. In light of this we should let him go and bring in someone to hopefully take the club forward.

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Lightningboy added 16:16 - Nov 3 🙏🏻🙄
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righty added 16:24 - Nov 3 Can't believe people think he is doing a good job wish they would explain
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howdonblue added 16:30 - Nov 3 WELL FXXK OFF BACK THERE !
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HARRY10 added 16:31 - Nov 3 Perhaps now is the time for him to go - rather than the end of season. Sunderland would have to buy out the remaining 8 months of his contrcat giving us money to do the same (if needed) for a lower league club manager. The squad looks ok to keep us up, and would give an incoming manager time to assess for any ins/outs/ over Jan transfer window. We need to take positive action before it becomes even more rankerous.

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itfcbam added 16:53 - Nov 3 What puzzles me is how much abuse would an underperforming manager get?? One that actually has us in the league table a position comparable with the resources at their disposal / size of the club (taking into account parachute payments of othet clubs). We are 17th best supported club in the league. Our current manager has at least matched that or exceeded, is well respected within the game, but is apparently cr@p at his job!! He is a strong experienced character who says things honestly, it seems with many on here its ok to abuse him and in any reply highlight any possible negative from his comments and get very upset at any comeback. This has created a spiraling toxic atmosphere at the club. For that reason I do feel we need to change and tbh I would wish MM well in future. I just hope we somehow find another manager who can do the same with resources available and play a more attractive style. However for some of you I still feel that won't be enough.

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