Town boss Mick McCarthy says there’s a “good chance” he’ll still be at Portman Road next season but is yet to make a decision on his future.

McCarthy, who turned 59 on Tuesday, is out of contract at the end of the season, although with the club having an option to keep him for two further campaigns.

The Blues boss says he is planning for next season, looking at players and setting up the pre-season programme, but says that doesn’t necessarily mean he will still be at the club, although says there’s a strong possibility he will.

“Not with some certainty but I can say there’s a chance I’ll be here, yes,” he said. “There’s a good chance I’ll be here, if [owner] Marcus [Evans] wants [me to be] if we can come to terms with it.

“I enjoy doing what I’m doing. I’ve no great desire to leave, but I’ve always said, it could be my decision, it could be the club’s decision. Until we get together, I’m sure we’ll be able to meet and then we’ll see.”

Asked whether that should suggest he’s already made his decision, he responded: “No, not at all.”

He says his future is still up in the air as things stand: “Yes. But my job’s not. I could go, ‘I’m not sure what I’m doing, I’ll won’t look at players and I won’t bother with looking at loans and transfers’.

“I could do, but that’s never going to happen and whether I was [going to be here next year] or not, even if I’d made my mind up I’d still keep doing that job and planning for next season because I’m the manager, I’ve got to do it. But that’s not the case, it’s still open.”

Last season McCarthy pondered whether fans have got bored of him, his spell at Portman Road having started in November 2012 almost six years ago now. Is he not bored of those fans? Might a change benefit all concerned?

“What do you think?” he retorted. “That I’m entitled to make my decision? And I will! You say you’re happy for me to make my decision, and I will.

“Have I made a decision yet? No I haven’t. I’ve said that and the more I talk about it that’s not going to make me say anything else. I haven’t. I’ve had a chat to Marcus and that’s just ongoing.”

Photo: Action Images

Miles added 16:37 - Feb 9 I do think one more year might not be the worst thing for the club. I know a lot dislike him and there are lots of question marks regarding the style of football amongst other things but he's been building things and with the youth we have and recent acquisitions there is a chance for a push next season. Huws, dozzell, Adayemi and Bishop to come back fit. A few decent signings and we could actually have a real go. Overly optimistic quite possibly but I just have that feeling! If you stay Mick, you'll have my full support!

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Andy32Cracknell added 16:39 - Feb 9 Oh how one man can kill a club in such a short period of time. If this is true there will be hardly anyone attending home games next season.
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heathen66 added 16:39 - Feb 9 Is this the only club in England (or anywhere for that matter) where the manager dictates whether he stays in a job or not, and not the owner or chairman. I find that really difficult to believe. He needs a tap on the shoulder from our very own invisible man and told...i don't think so sunshine. There is a wedge being driven between the club and the supporters as well as between the supporters themselves. If this carries on I think there will be an even bigger echo around PR on match days.

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PJH added 16:43 - Feb 9 How could he possibly consider leaving such wonderful supporters?
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senduntd added 16:56 - Feb 9 Good news then, I am always a believer in the devil you know. Might be a different story next season when all his injured players come back. We have some really exciting young players which bodes well for the future. If the lunatic fringe don't renew then bye bye we can do without the boo boys. We shoould encourage OUR TEAM.
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BluJu added 16:56 - Feb 9 The real news here .. "..his spell at Portman Road having started in November 2012 almost six years ago.. " Who did the maths on that one?
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ScottCandage added 17:06 - Feb 9 This is tiresome. Sh*t or get off the pot.
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Mark added 17:06 - Feb 9 MM certainly sounded much more like he will be staying, perhaps on a high after the Sunderland result and with the Barnsley reported interest. My opinion is fairly neutral. I thought it was inevitable MM would leave after the poor 2016/17 and how relations with fans deteriorated, but this season has been better on the pitch. MM made good summer signings and we're in the top half despite a horrendous injury crisis. The football has not been great, but it has not been overly negative indeed we have often played with four strikers/attackers, mainly due to midfield injuries. My main worry about MM staying is the continued falling attendances due to the negativity towards him. I still wonder if a fresh start could be best for the club, IF (a big IF) the right replacement was appointed.

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RedWhiteAndBLUE added 17:09 - Feb 9 Let joy be unconfined. 😣
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blueboy1981 added 17:13 - Feb 9 .... sendutnd ???? - another telling people to leave ???? - thousands leaving already without people like you telling them to go. Get real man. The Ground will be empty - or hadn't that fact occurred to you ?
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Swn98 added 17:39 - Feb 9 Bet that's ruined your weekendal way way.
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warktheline added 17:43 - Feb 9 Pour me a double whiskey my dear!
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Blue_Moses added 17:48 - Feb 9 There's a good chance I won't be renewing my season ticket
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cromwellblue added 17:51 - Feb 9 Hilarious, he knows you lot are so easy to wind up. He's probably reading the forum right now having a good laugh.
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MoscowBlueMule added 17:55 - Feb 9 blueboy1981 you write total nonsense. ITFC is a multimillion pound business that needs 7 million a year to stay afloat, that the owners finds year in year out. Directly and indirectly ITFC must employ hundreds of people in the local area. Of course the owner and MD care The problem isn't so much at the door of ITFC but the football world in general. Too much greed, majority of players don't play for love but their huge pay cheques.

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blue75 added 18:04 - Feb 9 Any other club in the country we would've changed manager last season. The atmosphere in the ground is awful. How many fans go to games expecting to be entertained with McCarthy the style will never change some games will be good most will be boring as hell even if we win. So I for one won't be renewing if he stays and after finding other things to do on Saturdays I'll probably not get a season ticket again the really sad thing is I sit here writing this and I really don't care if I didn't go again!! 4 years ago that would've been unthinkable for me!!

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Orraman added 18:13 - Feb 9 I consider myself a pretty thick skinned bloke who has been called many objectionable things in my 73 years. I've always said that you can call me what you like, just don't hit me!!!! However if I was managing ITFC and I knew how many people detested me then I would be on my bike out of there. He must have the skin of a rhino wearing an elephant skin coat. He is certainly no snowflake like the modern generation. As other posters have said, he's probably getting some perverted thrill about stringing us along.

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therein61 added 18:24 - Feb 9 He's got his proper blokes on new contracts(now that the premiership class exskuse for a footballer has signed) so they will be in the starting side come hell or high water for the duration of his stay, I expect that swn98 and gcon will(that is if they actually go to matches) be in their element supporting there beloved leader with the other 8.500 next season I thought this arrogant man had taken us as low as he could, but no he is going to stay and put the final nail in this great clubs coffin!!!!!!!!!

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Tony88 added 18:30 - Feb 9 If we get a new manager next season I don't think there will be as many renewing their season tickets, a lot of people have stopped going because of the cost. ME will not reduce prices anymore as the cost of running the club has gone up like it has for all clubs.
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runningout added 18:31 - Feb 9 let's see how this ropey season ends before negativity strangles our club
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carlisleaway added 18:33 - Feb 9 Evans obviously thinks more of McCarthy than he does of the fans, or is not really bothered but more interested in his tax return
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blue75 added 18:36 - Feb 9 Tony88 get a new manager and I'll renew tomorrow and there'd be quite a few who would return instantly. McCarthy has divided this club out of the people I know I can't think of 1 that wants him to stay. Maybe my friends and I are in the minority? There's no love for McCarthy in the ground either Ipswich fans are not known for calling for a manager to sacked it's not our way we just stop going maybe it's time for one side of this agreement to get vocal!! In or out let the chants decide!!!!

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Skip73 added 18:37 - Feb 9 Ha Ha, What a classic!. Take it with a pinch os salt everyone, We all know what a wind up merchant Mick is.
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BartonBluee added 18:54 - Feb 9 Haha fantastic news! It's brilliant reading all the comments on various articles saying "Micks definitely going" and now this comes out. None of us (including myself) know the going ons within the club apart from the people there! If anyone can actually tell me another manager that could come in and do better, please do...
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Swn98 added 18:57 - Feb 9 Theirin61 you do what you want please don't tell those that want to support their club what to do there's a good fella.
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