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

Pilgrimblue added 18:58 - Feb 9 Ive got to say that he looks like he's preparing for next season at PR. Extending Skuse contract loaning out players and I think he wants to see what he can do with Huws Adeymi Downes etc. He'll feel that a mid table finish with all the injuries he's had he could do a lot better. He's not my choice but but we've got to accept that's this is now most likely.
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ArnieM added 19:08 - Feb 9 If I didn't know better , I'd say Mr McCarthy is playing mind games . Definitely with the fans, and to some extent with Evans too? He'll go .
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Spanishblueblood added 19:16 - Feb 9 Anyone that thinks attendances wont improve, once Mick has gone, knows nothing about football. The falling attendances has f all to do with finances, its because of the style of play on show and the complete contempt shown to our great set of fans! Wake up happy clappers, we are going nowhere and stagnating under Mick, he is killing our club and a change is needed before its too late!

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Letchworth_Blue added 19:21 - Feb 9 First Skuse, now this.........how much more depressing can it get? - "Chambers signs new 5 year deal but insists he must return to right back".
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Northstandveteran added 19:24 - Feb 9 Well said Spanishblueblood. Going to Portman road should be about the buzz and anticipation of being entertained in a highly charged atmosphere, not as a chore, being bored senseless not once rising from your seat in expectation
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Spanishblueblood added 19:25 - Feb 9 I see the budgie brothers are out in force again, not much happening on your Norwich site Swn and Gcon?
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Cakeman added 19:30 - Feb 9 Oh great joy. The prospect of another season of McCarthy and Skuse will certainly improve season ticket sales (not) On the plus side I will save about £500 by not renewing.
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bingboast added 19:42 - Feb 9 The good side of this possible decision is that maybe the collection of so called fans on here who imagine Portman Road is home to Chelsea & endless funds, will just disappear to another club, they certainly are not dihard fans who would support Ipswich Town FC through thick & thin. And this site could then be dedicated to Ipswich Town FC.
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blue75 added 19:44 - Feb 9 BartonBluee George Burley did wonders on a small budget and having to sell at least 1 player a season to keep afloat. Joe Royle did it on a reducing budget but he managed to get us competitive every season had Evans came 12 months earlier we'd have been in the prem the following season. So yes there will be a manager out there that can do better on McCarthy's budget I don't know who but I'm not paid to know that, I pay and expect someone to make that decision!!!

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dirtydingusmagee added 19:47 - Feb 9 Mark ,with respect, your idea of top half is a bit desperate ,
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robpontin added 20:04 - Feb 9 Well that's interesting he didn't say either way so my guess is he is off if he is offered the jon
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TimmyH added 20:06 - Feb 9 Sorry I'm a bit choked up after reading this so won't type much...all for the wrong reason. Not surprised.
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TimmyH added 20:09 - Feb 9 Start of 2015...when things started going downhill, so in my mind that's over 3 years!!
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cat added 20:10 - Feb 9 Don't believe the hype, McCarthy clearly stated his future is undecided, what he didn't mention was his going to have fun winding the “fockers” up in the meantime.
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brendenward35 added 20:13 - Feb 9 Come on folks his in the frame for the Barnsley job and suddenly his keen to stay at ipswich so if you do your maths means a nice pay packet to get him to either stay or a nice salary if he goes to Barnsley. His not a fool and if I remember right Marcus had already sorted his new contract way before the end of the season so if Marcus was keen for him to stay would have been sorted by now.

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warktheline added 20:22 - Feb 9 Barnsley FC , reunite McCarthy with Moore! Most of us will be eternally grateful ! .....another double whiskey please dear!
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warktheline added 20:25 - Feb 9 ...swn , Moscow and gcon will make up backroom staff!
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Lightningboy added 20:28 - Feb 9 Knew McCarthy would be staying when we got stuck with Skuse for another 2 years yesterday..then him being made odds on favourite for the Barnsley job pretty much put that to bed - afterall,McCarthy is the most awkward so and so around and there's no way he'd do what the bookies would think he'd do. Lazy owner just happy to trundle along with the mediocrity that we've become acustomed to. Another couple of years bobbing around in no-man's land playing dreadful football and disappearing supporters. This club,it's owner,manager (and a lot of it's happy clappy supporters) really do need a rocket up their @rses. Beyond belief 🙈🙉🙊

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Swn98 added 20:30 - Feb 9 Don't be a moron please spanishblueblood just because people don't have the same views as you it doesn't make them a Canary.
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chorltonskylineblue added 20:50 - Feb 9 The more I read about what Mick's saying about his contract I think there's some clauses that have been left open. It could be performance, budget, I don't know. It seems obvious it's an ongoing discussion with Evans and like some player contracts in recent years he could sign it (like Skuse & Chambers) or decide to go elsewhere (e.g. like Trotter or Lavery). I think the talk of Mick going to Barnsley now is very unlikely to happen. He's only walked out on a club as a manager once - at Millwall (he resigned according to Wikipedia) - and I don't think anyone could begrudge him that step up at the time to be manager of the country he captained. He seems loyal and by the book, so even if he doesn't stay here beyond this season, I just can't see him leaving now unless he's relieved of his duties. Which also seems unlikely under Evans. He will see out his contract whatever happens.

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rfretwell added 20:57 - Feb 9 How this will go is anyones guess but ME is the clubs owner and he must be chuffed that MM is attracting very good quality players to the club whether on loan or for modest transfer fees.
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grubbyoik added 20:58 - Feb 9 I like football to be played a certain way.. Mcarthys teams don't play the type of football I like. I don't like or dislike McCarthy.. If he was capable of playing entertaining football I'm sure he would have done it by now... but he is not smart enough. I truely hope he leaves... From Mcarthy.. to Jewel.. to Keane .. it's been a long hard 9 years of poor football at Ipswich.

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wayway added 20:59 - Feb 9 This should surprise no one, I have said all along he has a job here as long as Evans PLC own the club. He knows the rules, don't ask for money to buy players, the money from any sales to go straight to the PLC. He is picking up his fat salary and gearing up for his retirement. The drop in season ticket sales which will no doubt follow his new contract will be offset by the sale of Webster, Dozzell and any other player of value. Nothing will change at Portman Road until Evans PLC find another more lucrative tax avoidance scheme then they will drop ITFC like a hot potato. If you think I am being overly pessamistic ask yourself WHY Evans PLC own the club, WHY do they just invest the bare minimum every season. What is their ambition for the club. If anyone on here can justify their actions I would very much like to be enlightened

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prebbs007 added 21:03 - Feb 9 FFS Noooooooooooooo. Season tickets below 9k then.
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AndyUK61873 added 21:21 - Feb 9 Question - everyone on here wants a change, but nobody has a recommendation of who they want in....that a) would want to be here, b) has the ability to change the squad in what everyone will want in one season, c) have the pedigree and proven track record at this level.......suspect old names will be thrown out like usual.
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