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

ArnieM added 21:51 - Nov 3 For McCarthy to make this statement on the eve of Towns next home game , has me wondering how the hell the players are going to react to this, " I want away, can't be arsed with ITFC anymore" stance. He' s clearly trying to force Evans hand here regarding his contract. Stubborn old git.
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Davidwb20 added 22:15 - Nov 3 I will drive you up there!! Just say the word they would be welcome to you!! Christmas 🎄 would be coming early if you went in a heartbeat!! Your attitude shows where your loyalties lay!!
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bobble added 22:46 - Nov 3 he has been here too long and achieved to little......we have had a bad run of 3 poor managers in a row so our bad luck spell will be over with his departure and we can finally move up...bad things come in 3s they say!
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evansblue added 22:59 - Nov 3 Any other manager with the money and players he has would have us top of the league with 14 wins. We have a divine right to play like Man City every week and anything less is not on. We are Ipswich - Let's get Kenny Jackett or Peter Reid in ASAP and get to the PREM.
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Bert added 23:07 - Nov 3 Unwise and ill timed comments that he did not need to make. He is beginning to sound deluded which is a sad reflection on his contribution to football generally. Too many similarities to Trump for him to stay next season. Sadly there are also too many numptie posters who cannot articulate anything beyond their usual junior school comments. Time they too went away allowing 'proper fans' to give their reflections without abuse.

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BlueBhoy added 04:07 - Nov 4 @itfcbam is spot on. We are not a big or attractive club. Haven't been since Robson left . I love the club but the fans put me off now more than the manger or the football. We have no money !! How can you expect a club or manager to improve if you don't support them. ?? Do you think a player will respond being booed ? Would you if you had a sh** day at work ? I Nobody is gonna sit at a job interview and be told you have F@@k all transfer budget but get us to the premiership ! Go on smart arses and key board F**king warriors. Tell me who ?? You are deluded. He does a fantastic job really. If we go up we won't stay up. Blaming any manger is mental , but as a club we are too silent and have let the whole place go to sh&t. We can't even get the north stand to sing anymore, never mind protest a change of owners. Blaming working man who is doing well is nuts. I sat at Charlton pre season and listended to 3 lads sing they are Gonna f**k McCarthys wife. And nobody said anything ( to my shame , me included). Is there any wonder why he has no respect for this club ? Why would you after the sh** he gets when he has an undeniably hard task.

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The_Romford_Blue added 04:50 - Nov 4 Lathers tour comment at 3:44 is untrue. We are not in the 'Top 11' on wages. We are 18th in the league for our budget it is believed.
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WorcesterBlue added 08:38 - Nov 4 I rarely post in here anymore as what's the point - nothing changes. But seriously can Evans not just pay this arse off now and get someone in who a/ has some humility b/ some ability and c/ can genuinely get a relatively cheaply assembled squad playing entertaining football. Send him to Sunderland and then let's never have to hear from him again.
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brittaniaman added 09:29 - Nov 4 I think He as much chance of getting the Sunderland job as he had with the republic of Ireland job Sadly. Big Mick ITFC. Twitter said yesterday. (Like it or lump it- and I like my teams to lump it- Big Mick is here to stay Forever. so there) He is certainly Anti Fans !!!!!!! and seems he does not care about the fans anymore ????
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Trojan added 10:23 - Nov 4 I can't believe how much this comment has aggravated me, a very niaive comment to make at a time when fans are questioning him as a manager. I have always given him the benefit of doubt but have to say the comment is typical of his arroganance and not required. A tad of modesty and thought for fans who are coming up to their second full decade in the second tier would be more appropriate. I fear that this once great club is reaching the point of no return and having been an attender at Portman Road since 1974 I am seriously concerned !!!!!

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Bert added 10:35 - Nov 4 Point proven. Too many on here just want to give childish abuse. We all know MM's time is up but for goodness sake use subtle ways of conveying to the club that Mick should go. If the full time outers had an ounce of sense they would mobilise themselves properly like proper supporters in other clubs have done. Whatever the numpties do today please don't direct anything at the player's or use abusive language to undermine yourview about MM.

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blue86 added 11:43 - Nov 4 Really think for all concerned it's time for mick to go. You wouldn't get away how he acts and the comments he makes at 99% of other clubs imo. He done well to keep us up when he arrived, and got us into the playoffs even though that was mainly due to Murphy having a freak goal scoring season. Yes we haven't got a massive budget and believe or not we are NOT a big club even by championship standards. Fresh ideas are required and a new manager who plays football the right way, just a bit of entertainment would be nice! Just really hope marcus does the right thing and gets someone decent this time, but marcus will also need to back the manager otherwise we will go nowhere. And that is more than half the problem I think, since marcus evans took us over we haven't done much have we? If anything we have gone backwards and the debt has got worse. So yes we may need a new manager....but what about a new owner who shows his face, regularly speaks to the fans and backs the manager? I think it's time for mick to go, but wouldn't mind also if marcus sold up to someone who wanted to get town going again! Coyb

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Seasider added 12:11 - Nov 4 Agree blue 86.Wasn't able to attend this years supporters meeting;but hope to be at the shareholders AGM(Evans never attends) Depends on what happens between now,and the meeting which should be in a months time;I will doubtless have something to say especially if things remain as they are or gets worse.
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blueboy1981 added 12:22 - Nov 4 ....... no chance of Sunderland wanting him, other than in desperation of wanting someone to keep them up this season. They are a much bigger Club than his archaic football would ever be welcome at - I'm sure they will set there sights somewhat higher than recruiting McCarthy - unfortunately for us ... !!
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blue86 added 13:04 - Nov 4 @ seasider. Just feel like the fans and the club seem separate these days and mick certainly is not helping with his stupid comments. I admit when evans first took over I was excited and thought it was exactly what we needed to move fowards, oh how wrong I was! An owner NEEDS to regularly speak and communicate with the fans and also back the manager. I hope you do get your point across at the AGM but like you say evans probably won't be there. Would love it for evans to sell up to someone who cares what the fans think and reunite the club so we're all in it together. Just feel like the fans are not treated with the respect we deserve imo. Hope things will change but can't see it with evans here. It's not all Mick's fault but a change of manager is needed as sometimes he sounds bitter about being here! Will always love the club but things need to change. We live in hope! Coyb

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ChestnutSe added 13:27 - Nov 4 Interviewer - Mick, would you go back to Sunderland? Mick - no, if I was out of contract and out of work that would be the last place on earth I would go. Absolutely no way, hell would have to freeze over. I would much rather be out of work. Interviewer - why do you say that Mick? Mick - because if I say that IF I was out of contract and out or work that I would consider the Sunderland job then some idiots will say my hearts not in this job and I have to go. Interviewer - So you would consider it IF you were out of work? Mick - WTF

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Skip73 added 15:09 - Nov 4 If he did go who would everybody want? I'm not having a go, it'll be interesting to know
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ChestnutSe added 18:27 - Nov 4 A young up and coming manager with fresh ideas and who plays modern football. Somebody like Alex Neil at Preston maybe? 😂
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