Former England boss Steve McClaren is claimed to be top of Town owner Marcus Evans’s list of potential successors to Mick McCarthy.

The current Blues boss is expected to leave at the end of the season with his contract up in the summer and, according to a report in The Sun on Sunday, Evans hopes to tempt McClaren, 56, to Portman Road.

The former Middlesbrough, FC Twente, Wolfsburg, Derby, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle manager is without a job at present having ended a short spell as a coaching consultant with Maccabi Tel Aviv at the end of last year.

McClaren’s name is unlikely to be the last speculatively linked with Town in the weeks to come with McCarthy’s summer departure now appearing inevitable.

As previously reported, Evans is believed to be keen on former skipper and coach Tony Mowbray, who he has twice come close to appointing Blues boss in the past, however, the 54-year-old is currently riding high in League One with Blackburn Rovers and might prove difficult to prise away from Ewood Park.

Ex-Manchester United defender Jaap Stam, 45, who was sacked by Reading earlier in the week, is also understood to be among those in Evans’s thoughts as he looks to appoint McCarthy’s replacement.

Photo: Action Images

stevieiriswattii added 12:20 - Mar 25 Interesting that no one has mentioned Stam. I would certainly prefer him above McClaren. Wants to play football, presumably has excellent contacts and has maybe learnt a lesson at Reading. A young Bobby R failed at his first appointment.... PS Anyone other than McCarthy!
3

Popeye added 12:25 - Mar 25 Nigel Pearson? Linked with West Brom in the same paper thats running the McLaren story. Personally can't see McLaren here as budget too small but Pearson might be an option as I believe he was interviewed for job last time but missed out to MM. Currently managing a club out in Belgium.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 12:30 - Mar 25 Mclaren, no, no no no! No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no. To be clear NO. Stam, no, no no no no no no no. No. Mowbray, no, no no no no no no no but out of the 3...... I really want to see some out of the box thinking with our next appointment and none of the above inspire. I thought Mclaren wanted to get sone investors together and buy a club? Assume most of the money men have seen sense and swerved that. Let's hope ours does the same.

2

Town4me added 12:31 - Mar 25 Dear god no!!! He has got to be the most dull and un-inspiring manager ever! Would he start putting on a Suffolk accent once he'd go here!?
3

SheptonMalletBlue added 12:32 - Mar 25 I have no confidence in Evans to appoint a good manager, just look at his track record!!!!
2

BlueandTruesince82 added 12:34 - Mar 25 Have ye git a litee bouyeeee? Dash guood velcolm to Ipschicwich ya.
2

CornardBlue added 12:36 - Mar 25 I would love Evans to go for Frank Lampard as our next manager, he has played at the very top level for many years got all his coaching badges. He would be a better choice than all the usual suspects and would play football the proper way.
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Ipswichbusiness added 12:37 - Mar 25 Evans' previous appontments seem to have three things in common; 1) a "name" manager, 2) a previous promotion from the Championship, 3) unemployed at time of recruitment. If he is going to follow the form then my preference would be Glenn Hoddle. However, I would rather he ignore the criteria and go for Paul Hurst (Shrewsbury).
9

TonyMowbray added 12:40 - Mar 25 The mighty Tony Mowbray please! The speculation of a new manager is very encouraging......just hope we get the right one!
8

Carberry added 12:42 - Mar 25 So let's make a list of who we don't want. McLaren, Poyet, Pardew are at the top of mine.
2

ArnieM added 12:44 - Mar 25 Load of cobblers . End of.
0

Carberry added 12:45 - Mar 25 Sorry, you can add Pearson too..
1

martin587 added 12:45 - Mar 25 At the moment it's all paper talk so I don't read into this as yet.Still a while to go if MM were to leave and I'm sure nothing would be announced while he is still Manager.!
3

Cakeman added 12:57 - Mar 25 Not worth getting wound up about every link that is aired. It is inevitable given our clubs current plight. I would imagine Evans has already someone lined up but as in the past he will keep things close to his chest and surprise us all.
3

Slambo added 13:00 - Mar 25 Pegasus - agree with you word for word. Excellent post. That said, I think McClaren has been very unfairly maligned over the years. I would never judge a manager by how he's done at Derby, Forest or Newcastle and their moronic owners who sack managers on a whim. Maybe this could be McClaren's chance to show the doubters..?
2

heathen66 added 13:00 - Mar 25 The positives of this is it is NOT Mick McCarthy so that is a step in the right direction. I also believe McClaren is a good coach which he has proved, but struggles when given money (will be ok here) I however believe that the club really needs to talk a step back and decide which direction we are to go. I for one would like to see a whole new approach to the way the club is run and the way the team plays on the pitch. To this point I believe we need someone with a completely different approach, a young and hungry manager. Unfortunately Garry Monk has been snapped up as we have dithered, so therefore I would be looking at someone like Nathan Jones or the Cowley boys (£900k contract buy out clause...apparently) Failing that I believe we should also look abroard as seems to be the flavour at the moment. We just need something different that is going to get us excited...perhaps Maurice Steijn at VVV (previously linked). This is probably the most important decision Evans has had to make in his 10 years. Lets hope he gets it right !!!

7

fergalsharkey added 13:06 - Mar 25 If true i will sell my towen rosette and rattle.
1

blackcat added 13:14 - Mar 25 Is this Evan's way of softening us up for an announcement that mm is staying, cos this has to be a joke, please Lord let it be a joke
3

blackcat added 13:14 - Mar 25 Is this Evan's way of softening us up for an announcement that mm is staying, cos this has to be a joke, please Lord let it be a joke
1

lightingblue added 13:14 - Mar 25 I've said for a while. Be careful, very care what we all wish for. In the whole situation, we should be grateful what we have. Name one just one person who could work under the same circumstances as McCarthy. Pretty much for certain, we will end up in a very similar situation if not worse with someone else. Please all remember what he has done with no money. We've also had some key players out for long periods. The abuse that has been given to him is almost at the same level as someone emptying the contents of their mouth over someone.

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TractorJed added 13:26 - Mar 25 No to McClaren No to Stam Not sure re Mowbray There just has to be better options???
3

Gcon added 14:06 - Mar 25 Amusing how many posters above have berated others for alluding to 'be careful what you wish for' type comments when looking for Evans to replace MM. And now look - we are talking about The Wally With The Brolley!... There's the young exciting appointment you've all been looking for. And, really, Evans is still not the issue here????......
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hollywoodginge added 14:19 - Mar 25 Cornard - you mean like Roy Keane? And to all of the above...this is a story in The S*n and you are all talking like its gospel. 🙈
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 14:21 - Mar 25 I agree with most that I don't want Steve McClaren to take over but not with people's reasoning about his age. If we pick our next manager based on his age, we might as well pack up now.
2

mattipswich added 14:21 - Mar 25 would prefer to stick with MM
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