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

Taricco_Fan added 16:57 - Nov 3 @HARRY10 Completely agree.
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tractorboybig added 17:02 - Nov 3 Marcus, for once, for the first time, if only once. LISTERN TO THE FANS!!!!!!!!! make him out of contract.
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Len_Brennan added 17:12 - Nov 3 Taricco_Fan is bang on the money above - a come and get me plea if ever there was one. From Sunderland's point of view, regardless of what some fans might think, he is exactly the type of manager they need for the situation they now find themselves in. They really can't afford to take a risk this time & they know exactly what they'd get with Mick. He knows he can't be seen to proactively encourage it, but is clearly laying out the circumstances that need to be put in place behind the scenes in order to allow him go to another club without seeing out the term of his full contract here. That is perfectly fair, he has his pride and I believe he is genuine in not wanting to break a contract. If it suits all parties and an arrangement between clubs is reached, well that's a different matter and good luck to him. He's clearly not happy here and some of his comments about fans have crossed a line that can't be uncrossed (or recrossed/retracted - you know what I mean) If it comes to pass (and I too like those odds), then the real head scratching begins as to who we'd get to replace him. Marcus Evans is not one to stump up the cash to entice someone currently doing well at another club; so which out of work manager would we be looking at?

16

prebbs007 added 17:22 - Nov 3 Need a lift Dinosaur ??
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prebbs007 added 17:31 - Nov 3 And take your "proper blokes" with you !!!
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itfchorry added 17:40 - Nov 3 The next train from Ipswich to Sunderland leaves at 5:49pm with changes at Peterborough and York - Arrives Sunderland at 11:20pm
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Fen69 added 17:40 - Nov 3 ME just let Dick McCarthy go, we ain't interested in him "preserving his record here", anybody know what his record here is?
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Cheshire_Blue added 17:45 - Nov 3 As the well known saying says "Empty vessels make the most noise" Just read the rubbish posted on here.
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DoseOfReality added 17:47 - Nov 3 Good .. don't let your greed get in the way .. go now
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Woodbridgian added 17:48 - Nov 3 If you need a lift just ask
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Seasider added 17:52 - Nov 3 Harry 10.Mr Evans could have a word with his Manager to confirm that he wont be renewing Micks contract (we hope}. If all party's agree an approach could then be made to Sunderland,with the added incentive to them of not having pay any compensation.Mr Evans wouldn't have to cough up anymore money,and Mr McCarthy could walk straight into another job,which could pay him as much,if not more than he is currently getting. And then I woke up !!!

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Ipswichbusiness added 17:53 - Nov 3 The way I read this MM is on a lucrative contract and determined to milk it for what it's worth. I expect him to hang on grimly and look for a job in the Spring ... unless he can persuade ME to extend it on even better terms!
1

dukey44 added 18:23 - Nov 3 Can't we start a fund raising on here to pay for his taxi??
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warktheline added 18:29 - Nov 3 I'm with Engelbert Humperdinck on this one, 'release him'!!!!
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Dissboyitfc added 18:35 - Nov 3 Its a shame but i think we will have him until his contract expires.
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cranky_old_tractor added 18:35 - Nov 3 Do us a favour then MM
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heathen66 added 18:53 - Nov 3 It really is not about resource although obviously it does help. It is about the brand of football that MM insists on playing. We have been outplayed by lower league teams on a fraction of our budget. 5 years and MM has assembled a bunch of workers who put in a shift. If Mick had been given £5m plus...we would still have Skuse Douglas etc...or that type of player and would have cost us £5m plus. This is what Mick does...look at the Celina situation. He does not play every week as he does not work hard enough and does not think defence first. Having loan players and not playing them drains resources too

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runaround added 19:14 - Nov 3 Don't let us stop you Mick!!! Joking apart it would be a good move for everyone in the short term at least. Whether his replacement here could help reunite the bond between club and fans is another matter
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righty added 19:28 - Nov 3 Does anyone believe he will ever manage again above Sunday league
4

Swn98 added 19:36 - Nov 3 Why on earth would he want to leave us on the tail of the playoffs to a struggling club with no more money than hes got here.
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pragmatic added 20:20 - Nov 3 Gd points itfc bam sadly some people seem to hav forgot the meaning of support preferring to critize everything itfc does,
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warktheline added 20:24 - Nov 3 Cos we aren't going to be on the tail end of the playoffs much longer and secondly he obviously would jump at the chance of moving on if his greedy nature is satisfied with being paid off!
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TimmyH added 20:29 - Nov 3 I've always said Mick and Marcus are too 'in bed with each other'...said that when Marcus gave Mick an extended contract in 2016 (got -82 votes for it, I wonder where those posters are now?) and nothing I've seen or read has changed that for me. Sadly Sunderland will have a new manager in the next week or so and McCarthy will be here until at least May and god forbid no longer!

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TimmyH added 20:36 - Nov 3 erm...swn98 because that's what Mick excels at...'battling' to get away from adversity and to stop a ship from sinking. What in the last 10 years says anything different?
4

dukey44 added 21:20 - Nov 3 I live with mackems and they all say they would have him back ????? They still think he's the man to save them?? I said ring Ipswich help desk and tell them!!
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