Town boss Mick McCarthy says the atmosphere during Tuesday night’s 3-0 home defeat to Hull City was “a disgrace” and that it will make it “incredibly difficult” for his players to perform if repeated at the Blues’ four remaining matches at Portman Road this season.

Fans aimed derogatory chants towards McCarthy, who they booed off at the end of each half and sarcastically cheered the players completing run of the mill passes during the second period.

Asked if the evening was difficult to get over, McCarthy said: “It’s not one of the most enjoyable experiences but, no.

“I went and played in the club golf day yesterday and I loved it, I had a great day, thank you. I’m able to [get over it], I’m looking forward to Bristol City.”

He says the players gave him their backing and he talked to them this morning.

“Yes, I got my call yesterday and I’ve spoken to them today, just to make sure that they’re aware that we’ve all got to be professional and whatever’s going on we’ve got to carry on doing the same things.

“Speaking to the press, speaking to the radio, speaking to the public, going on the golf day when it’s there and the players did, there were a lot of youngsters actually because of the workload the first team have had. And it was a really enjoyable one. To continue doing the same and we don’t change.”

Has he had a call from owner Marcus Evans since the events of Tuesday? “I wouldn’t talk about that. My relationship with Marcus has always been win, lose or draw I’ll get a call at some stage and he’s the very same person at any performance level, result level. Whatever’s happened, he’s always exactly the same.

“And that’s what I’ve always really admired about him, that’s very supportive that, he’s not up and down, he’s very consistent.”

Will he know all about Tuesday even if he wasn’t there? “I would think so. Marcus is probably one of the brightest fellas I’ve ever come across, intelligent and knows what’s going on without having to be speaking to [me] every day. Yes, I think he’s fully aware of that.”

McCarthy says now it’s a case of moving on, although he reiterated that he doesn’t believe the Blues’ situation and performances warranted Tuesday night’s protests: “I spoke to them all this morning about continuing and being the same people.

“I don’t think we played particularly well but it certainly wasn’t as bad and the situation were in isn’t as bad as the reaction.

“But I do think the reaction was to me and not to them but they have to play in it.

“And the atmosphere was a disgrace on Tuesday night. And it will make it incredibly difficult to play if that’s going to be the case for the remaining games at home.

“And if it is, it’s ridiculous because it does affect the players playing in that and whatever I do, come and support the team, support the players.

“If they all want to stand afterwards and boo me and jeer me, fine. If it was to try and get me out and me to walk out it’s not achieved anything because I’m not going to.

“If it’s something to provoke Marcus into sacking me, well I’m still here doing the press conference for Bristol City and I’m certain I’ll still be here doing the press conference for Middlesbrough at home. So, we’ll see.”

He added: “The players had to play in it on Tuesday night. It’s not doing anybody any good. It’s not doing them any good, it’s not doing the team any good, it’s not doing the club any good.

“I’m here talking about it, it goes national and worldwide about about how people feel about it.

“And, you know what, perhaps I don’t want it to ruin my ‘brand’, how I perform and what people think of me, but I think that’s restricted to this area at the moment in terms of Ipswich fans about the job that I’ve done and how it’s been done here.

“But, as I said, don’t let it affect the players. The players are trying their legs off and running their socks off for everybody. It might not be good, it might not be great but they’re trying their best.

“I only ask is to give them the support and if then they want to give me grief at the end and boo me off, cool.”

McCarthy is aware that the frustration doesn’t just relate to current form or fans’ thoughts about him, but with the overall context of the Blues having been in the Championship for 16 seasons with little realistic prospect of promotion as things stand presently.

“Of course, I understand that,” he admitted. “Maybe they feel the need or what they want to see as change.

“Myself and the players can’t really affect all of that, we turn up and work hard in training and in games and try and do our best for the team.

“From coming in here, every year I’ve tried to get into the top six. I’ve been in it once and done my best, and all the players have.

“All the other stuff, I can’t affect. I’m dealing with the things on the pitch and with the players, so that’s what I’m saying it doesn’t reflect.

“I’m talking from my point of view from this training ground and the players, I’m speaking on behalf of me and them, not on behalf of how many managers were before me and the fact that they got relegated when they did and crowds are going down. We continue to try and do our best for the club.”

The impromptu post-match on-pitch meeting with players after the Hull match was illustrative of a siege mentality developing among the management and players.

Asked whether he felt that was healthy, McCarthy responded: “Have I created that? I take it always that if you’re inside this building you are inside peeing out, whether you’re at the top of the league or you’re bottom of the league, that’s the way it is.

“If you’re outside, you’re peeing in because that’s the way it is as well. And nothing’s changed with me, nothing at all.

“The only thing that’s changed is probably the amount of aggro I’m getting personally, and if that’s because we’ve been in the league for how many years or because the pitch is not great or the stadium’s not great or my football’s [not] great.

“They thought it was brilliant when I got them out of the dirt when they were seven points adrift, and they thought it was brilliant when we finished in the top six.

“And I haven’t changed. The only people who have changed are the people who are watching. If they’re getting bored of everything and I’m getting the flak for it, well so be it because I am the figurehead and I’m quite happy to take it.”

Is it easier when fans are among those inside the tent peeing out? “I think I give that message always. When I came to the club that was the case, that was my message and nothing’s ever changed - that we hadn’t got the best budget, I’ve got these players, I’ve got seven loan players and by the way we’re going to go out and give absolutely everything and do the best we possibly can.

“And that was accepted then because it was seen as a success finishing, what was it, 14th? It was accepted the following year because it was ninth. It’s really accepted and I’m ‘Dick S–t’ all of a sudden because we finished sixth.

“So I haven’t changed and I would love the fans to be on [side] but I can’t do that, I keep trying it.

“We go away and we win two away games, we’ve had two great results, we should have beaten Norwich, that would have been fabulous.

“So, I’m still doing my part of the bargain, absolutely 100 per cent doing my part of the bargain and if I can’t get them to buy into the way I do it on my part of the bargain, well you’re going to have to tolerate me for nine games at least, unless Marcus offers me to stay.”

McCarthy has previously said he doesn’t care what fans might think but clarified that position slightly: “Of course I care what fans think. When I say I don’t care, I don’t go home and lose sleep, I don’t go home and cry myself to sleep and I don’t lose sleep over it.

“I want to be with the fans, of course I do, wherever I am. It’s about the fans, they’ll be here when I’ve long gone, they’ll be here when all the players have gone. I would love the fans to be back on side, I’ve enjoyed my relationship with them.

“But, wow, I think I’m pretty much getting the thin of the wedge at the minute, I have to be honest.”

Last season McCarthy ruminated on fans becoming bored with managers after they’d been at clubs for long spells. Does he feel his time at Town is just coming to its natural end?

“Maybe, but the natural end will, of course, be at the end of the season when my contract runs out,” he added.

“So, I wasn’t walking away from my contract last year when I’ve got a year’s contract. Why should I walk out of work and go looking for something else?

“So, as I said, I’ve completed my end of the bargain, and I haven’t changed by the way since we win the first five games of the season when we were scoring goals for fun.

“I haven’t changed at all and I’m still completing my end of the bargain, which is my contract and unless that changes, there’s not a lot I can do about that.”

Does he believe there’s a lack of understanding among fans about how tough it is to compete in the Championship these days on the budgets he has been working with?

“I think there’s an understanding that fans want their team to be winning and to be playing well and to be a happy atmosphere and to come and socialise and be at a nice environment on a Saturday and we’re all in it together,” he reflected.

“We’ve had that for a long time, it’s not at the moment. However we get it back, that might mean me leaving, or might not be. That might mean me leaving and then you’re top of League One in a couple of years or something, that would be fabulous.”

He also said last season that he’d “hate to be coming in here with 12,000 or 10,000 season tickets or something when we’ve been used to far better if that’s down to me”.

Reminded of those comments, he said: “There’s a lot of support for me as well. There is a lot of support for me and for the team and not all negative and I don’t think that’s the case.

“And, yes, I’d love them to be back on side because I really enjoyed, certainly my first three and a half years here, four years, more than I’ve enjoyed this season. But that still doesn’t mean to say I’m not going to continue and be professional and do my job to the very bitter end.”

Has he experienced a similar schism with fans at any of his previous clubs? “I think at the end when it ends, I guess. I won the Championship with Sunderland and spent a year in [the Premier League there] and with Wolves and I think when it starts to come to an end you start getting a bit of grief.

“But I’ve had nothing like that [on Tuesday], I’ve had nothing like that atmosphere. I’ve had more hostile atmospheres, but I’ve never had that. That was like complete apathy and I don’t think there was any respect for the players actually, which is sad.

“Giving the manager stick is one thing, I think giving [it to] players is another thing altogether.”

Is he happy in his work at present? “I love my job at the moment. I come in every day and enjoy it. And pretty much as I walk out on a game day I enjoy that because I always think we’re going to get something out of it.

“And when we do it’s brilliant and when we don’t I just have to suffer the consequences, which I did on Tuesday night.”

Photo: TWTD

Suffolkboy added 17:47 - Mar 15 I'm certain we'd all like better points total, more wins , more goals and a MUCH better pitch but we'd also like MM and his team to have better support ; from Milne , Mr Evans and most importantly from those who come along ,pay the money( and its considerable ,for most of us ,especially when travel time and Costs are taken in) ,but do we all believe the players aren't trying - deliberately - do we think we've a God given right to be in the play off places ,OR do we realistically think a place above mid table ( given our resources ) is a target we'd perhaps hope to surpass ? McCarthy is absolutely correct in his assessment of the behavioural patterns on Tuesday ; it's not ,and never has been the Ipswich way -- SO please let's have some inward navel gazing ,humility and a determination to either leave or properly support ,and that is everyone at the Club , There are vehicles for communication available to each , but the terrible quality of general comment on TWTD is absolutely depressing ! Buck up your ideas please !

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WoodfordTim added 17:47 - Mar 15 There is no other explanation, MM is just plain thick. The standard of football has been awful. What other line of entertainment would treat the watching, paying public with such contempt?
11

Theipswich added 17:53 - Mar 15 dreadful football, no youth players come through, abysmal cup record, disdain for the supporters, tactically always found wanting, responsible for major drop in supporters' level, young fans deserting by the dozen, one barely managed promotion challenge in 6 years....your stewardship is a disgrace and you are not bigger than the club and never will be....
12

BlueandTruesince82 added 17:56 - Mar 15 That league one dig, funny, may come true. At this point we just need a change, its not even about the football ant more per se or even Mick. Its about apathy, 6 years of Mick, 16 years of Championship (I'm not a relegation is good for the club advocate) but it just feel stale. We're bored and just want to see something diffrent. Play the kids Mick. We are safe. At this point I dont even care about the reults, not this season. Blood the youth and let us reap that investment in them.

7

Seasider added 17:56 - Mar 15 Sorry JAS pushed wrong button
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Bert added 17:58 - Mar 15 When MM says we have all got to be professional, does he not remember slagging off the fans many times this season, his offensive gesture at the Norwich game and how he positions himself as what I say goes ? Yes, it was very uncomfortable on Tuesday and the jeering of the players passing was unworthy but there were worse times under Keane. Unfortunately, MM's many credits are now outweighed by his own unprofessional behaviour yet we hear nothing from his employer. Whilst we know that MM can attract good loan signings and he has the support of the players, that in itself is not good enough to justify him staying. The season is marginally better than last year but the Board and Evans must do the right thing and not offer a further contract. To do otherwise will make a mockery of what a sense of belonging really means to Town supporters.

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runningout added 18:03 - Mar 15 He's entitled to his opinion I suppose
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Karlosfandangal added 18:08 - Mar 15 One of the reason I have stopped going is because of the so called fans......why should i spend 100 odd quid to watch poor football and then listen to foul and abousive language. Ipswich was always a friendly club and that was from managers players and pundits.....that is not said anymore. Mick has not help things but the fans have to take some of the blame too.....o no that right they are never wrong.

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Felstow1978 added 18:08 - Mar 15 I am not renewing my two season tickets, this is the final straw. Enough is enough. End of.
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cfmoses added 18:08 - Mar 15 McCarthy must have a short memory...he created a rift with the fans at Wolves and Sunderland. Success was followed by boring football. Our success? Well he saved us from relegation and gave us the excitement of a play off....with the help of Reading winning at Derby. That seems a lifetime away. If only he could get as close to the fans as he has got with the players, show some humility, accept 5 games at home without a goal might be something to do with his selection of 5 defenders and 3 defensive , and use his influence to get our owner to be visible and communicate.

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BlueMachines added 18:10 - Mar 15 I think this guy genuinely deluded. We are only ‘giving out' to him. There was no negativity towards Nydam as he claimed after the Hull game. The worst he got were gasps when his lack of control put Hull in with a chance of scoring. Certainly didn't get any abuse. The only player to get such negativity was Douglas but he is long gone (thankfully) And please can we get past this idea of Mick being ‘honest'. He changes his ‘honesty' to suit as proved by the way his story changes when reminded about his comments with regards to attendance figures.

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H1960 added 18:11 - Mar 15 MM is a compete narcissist, totally in love with himself, he must look at himself in the mirror each morning thinking eey uup what a great man you are....Deluded, I am bored to death listening to him droning on about how wonderful he is and how he is our great messiah. Evans needs to grow a pair and sack him now and satisfy the vast majority of his paying customers what they wish otherwise they will go and possibly not return!

5

black_shuck added 18:13 - Mar 15 Mick, if you're so great why haven't you signed the contract already? Seems you're exceeding all your personal and professional goals. All the team think you're the best thing since sliced bread. ME is getting everything he wants on the cheap. You're showing everyone that you're on a par with Alex Ferguson. Why haven't you signed the contract already??
3

Seasider added 18:13 - Mar 15 JAS I pushed the up button again and it worked so have managed to cancel out my negative Thought it was the usual MM,harking back to when he won the Championship with Wolves and Sunderland,saving us from relegation and then getting us into the play-offs just;also winning first five games this season. It was also interesting when he mentioned about other previous managers here getting us relegated;but that was 16 years ago.Also saying if he left,and we won the 1st Division in a couple of years he would be pleased !!! He was basically saying what a good Manager he was and still is as he hasn't changed.Not much said about the 3-0 loss on Tuesday though.

7

runaround added 18:14 - Mar 15 Yes the atmosphere was horrible but it's Evans & McCarthy that have caused this. The only ways fans can express their annoyance and unhappiness is to boo or walk away . More & more are doing the latter which is more damaging as they may not return. Time for Evans to stand up, take the lead & give fans hope
14

cooper442 added 18:17 - Mar 15 This man seems to think he has some sort of divine right to his job ,football is an entertainment industry and the simple fact his style of football is not .. He should have been gone a long time ago !
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Kuqicoo added 18:18 - Mar 15 Oh just go man. I used to like his honesty, now it's just tiresome. This club is like a bloomin circus. I sat through the match on Tuesday. It was a dire performance. Slow, static, little movement or anticipation of the ball, dreadful passing and aimless punts. I was fuming. I didn't boo. I didn't sing the songs. But I crave change because I'm sick of the dullness, sick of the sniping, sick of paying a fortune to watch us failing at getting the basics of football right. Mick has no humility. Stubborn, belligerent, always right and treats all fans with contempt. I was behind him a few years ago. His first couple of seasons were great after what had gone before. Now he has soured my view of our club and of him. But he doesnt care. And i daresay our owner doesnt care. A sad bitter time which i want to end asap. Just just go...

11

BraveDave added 18:19 - Mar 15 Ok, let's put our views on McCarthy to one side. That has been debated to death and, whatever the reason, I don't think there are many fans who think it sensible for him to be here next season. So, putting that aside, it is absolutely true that the treatment of some players is a disgrace. Whatever their abilities, they do not go out to perform badly and (particularly for the youngsters) jeering and sarcastic applause can only dent their confidence further. But then, we have always had a group of 'supporters' who somehow think that because they are paid a good wage, they are not due any sympathy and are fair game for abuse. What a sad outlook to have. There have been unwarranted scapegoats for years. Whatever your views on the state of our club, that is not the behaviour of a true supporter and those 'fans' don't speak for me.

0

CornardBlue added 18:21 - Mar 15 Sixty years i have been watching my beloved club, and a season ticket holder most of that time. I have seen the good times and bad times but i swear what we are watching now is the worst i have ever seen. Spending money does not come into it, Sir Alf won the League spending 10k on one player, Sir Bobby did not spend a lot but they new how to play football. I will not be renewing my season ticket if MM is still Manager next season i have had enough, what happened the other night was nothing against the players it was meant for the manager and he knows it and Evans knows it. Its about time Evans bottled up and understands the supporters frustrations and listens to them. We Have had enough of MM management and WANT CHANGES NOW.

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warktheline added 18:21 - Mar 15 Three and a half years of total failure in relation to progression and still posts are written advocating 'please be good chappies it's not the Ipswich way'!* News flash * the last TEN years haven't been the 'Ipswich way' and yes, finally, the worm has turned! GET USED TO IT!!!!....or 'sort it'!
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itsonlyme added 18:22 - Mar 15 Oh dear oh dear oh dear! Can the club sink any lower? I left 15 minutes from the end of Tuesday's game, not because of the scoreline but I was embarrassed by the fans actions. I completely understand the mood of the fans as I want MM out asap but I cannot and will not cheer or clap sarcastically at my own team. They need our support to get through the last four games. Please, let's cheer them on to hopefully a victory in our next game, by which time we should know the fate of our manager.

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AlanG296 added 18:24 - Mar 15 So, he's had hostility before elsewhere, but Tuesday night was "a Disgrace" because it was apathy. The apathy is all down to his selections, his tactics, his attitude and his behaviour and the apathy of the owner who lets him carry on regardless.
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Umros added 18:28 - Mar 15 Glad you had a nice day playing golf, I went to work. Team should have been on the training pitch trying to string three passes together! Was your foul language on national tv a disgrace I wonder?
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BraveDave added 18:28 - Mar 15 Down voted for basically saying fans shouldn't shout abuse at players. Nothing about abuse towards McCarthy, or the fact that he needs to leave, but simply that we shouldn't abuse our own players. So I can only assume you believe we absolutely should abuse our young team. I give up!
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BlueArrow added 18:36 - Mar 15 Easy way to stop the booing at home games........ Don't go leave the stadium empty even if only for one game
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