Town have confirmed that manager Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor will be leaving Portman Road at the end of the season.

McCarthy met owner Marcus Evans on Wednesday night and, according to a statement on the club website, “decided the move was in the best interest of all parties”.

The former Ireland boss, who took over at Portman Road in November 2012, and Connor will stay in charge for the remainder of the season. The duo's contract is up in the summer.

“Mick and I had a discussion and we both agreed that this was the best way forward for him and for Ipswich Town,” Evans told the club website.

“It never got to the point where we actually talked about a new contract. It just felt right that it was time for us both to look at different options. “Mick has been a fantastic manager for this football club, ably supported by Terry who has also been invaluable in the development of the team.

“When Mick arrived, we looked to be on the way to relegation. He saved us from that and then took us to the play-offs within two years.

“In his six years here he has made us a very competitive club in what is a very competitive league. No one looks forward to playing Ipswich.

🗣"I went and spoke to Marcus and after having that chat we both decided that it's probably best if we go our separate ways."

Mick McCarthy to depart the Club at the end of his contract pic.twitter.com/nnwthDmKk7

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) March 29, 2018

“He has also been instrumental in developing our youth policy and has overseen the progress of a number of our young players from the academy into the first-team and nurtured their development in line with the club’s strategy.

“He’s immensely popular with all the staff at Portman Road and has built a strong backroom team who will provide important continuity as we move into a new era.

“On a personal note, I have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with him which is vital between owner and manager at any football club.

“Mick will see out his contract here and then we will look to make an announcement regarding his successor in due course.

“In the meantime, I want to put on record my sincere thanks to Mick for the job he has done here as our manager and urge supporters to get behind him and the players so that we can finish the season as strongly as possible.”

McCarthy added: “I had a good discussion with Marcus and we feel this is the right thing to do for me and for Ipswich Town.

“I have loved my time here and I am proud of what I have achieved over the last six years - and the relationship I have enjoyed with the players and all the staff at the club in that time.

“I won’t be leaving with any regrets. I have given everything for Ipswich Town and I will see out my contract in the same way.”

Photo: TWTD

Millsey added 14:15 - Mar 29 Watch the season tickets fly off the shelf now?????? No excuses now. Thanks MM & TC
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Europablue added 14:29 - Mar 29 Since we are safe, it would make sense to get the new man in sooner rather than later. Let him experiment a bit and get to know the team without having to get results.
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braveblue added 14:33 - Mar 29 Great news. He can go to one of the clubs some think are lining up to take him. Need fans to have a go at. Let's hope we get an ambitious young manager.
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Adnamsfarter added 14:38 - Mar 29 I am glad to see the majority of sentiment here is positive at last. MM and TC are proper football men. They lacked two things: competitive financial backing and luck at the key moments. If we had had Andre, Teddy, Emir and Tom fit this year after the fast start we had, who knows? I dare say Mick would have given us some quick passing progressive football if he'd had a half decent pitch and a fit squad. What he and TC did do is not lose games when the relegation death spiral was looming. Not always pretty, but I for one am grateful that we did not make the trip to League 1. So, Mick and TC, thank you, good luck next time out, and I am sorry the frustration we all feel about so many years in the doldrums boiled over. Over to you Mr Evans. If you need to attract other investment in the club, let's hope there's a way. Give us a flat pitch, a face-lift for the stadium, and drop the ticket prices right down for the younger fans (it can't be more expensive than having the seats empty). There must be plenty of parents who would bring their kids down if the price was right. All these things are investments that would lift the mood and do not rely on luck (unlike our injury list). Think about what would make a good player want to play at Ipswich too. A full stadium, a good infrastructure and progressive coaching must be up there. Good luck and Happy Easter to true blues everywhere

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Crazy_blue added 14:39 - Mar 29 like 99% of everyone posting on here I wanted Mick out a long time ago. Dire football and clearly a man who has lost any link with the fans. The club needs new ideas on the pitch.... However, I really think we should be careful what we wish for... I am very concerned that the new manager will not be given any extra funds than MM had to play with. I look at the current league table and I see Sunderland Rock bottom. Countless new managers and wasted cash on tin pot players. Blackburn, Charlton etc. I really do not see what a change in manager will bring. We are an average club with average players. Mick has done a grand job with virtually zero spend. Yes, his tactics are awful and we are boring to watch, but remember where we were when he joined. He should have been moved on 2 years ago. We are a stable club in a tough league and MM should take some credit for achieving what he has on a ridiculous budget. Wolves spent 15m on one player, MM hasn't spent that in nearly 8 years. I'd like to think that the 99% of Mick haters, can take 5 minutes out and appreciate what he has done during his time in charge. I know it hasn't all been good and I am first to admit that, but I'd rather be a Town fan than a Sunderland fan at moment. Thanks for your efforts Mick and Terry.... Fingers crossed for a good appointment.... someone just mentioned Steve Mclaren, personally id keep Mick. Happy Easter all....

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smithy0981 added 14:39 - Mar 29 No ex managers and no Steve McLaren please
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baxter7 added 14:41 - Mar 29 Just heard on look east McLaren's favourite for f--k sake no please no rather have mcarthy signing a new 10 year contract no matter how over the moon about him leaving
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Telford_Blue added 14:41 - Mar 29 Whilst I could not stand his attitude towards the fans actually having an opinion and felt as a result of that, that now is the time for him to go; when you look and see that our whole squad is not worth a third of what wolves paid for Neves (and we bought two £1m players in the summer) I don't think anyone could have done better on the given resources. Yes his football was dire and negative at times but we could easily could have been a 3rd tier club. He kept us in the championship and for that reason I wish him all the very best in his new endeavours (apart from if his new team ever play us!). Paul cook from Wigan or Tisdale from Exeter for me if we are going for new young blood.

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Westy added 14:45 - Mar 29 Even McCarthy's most ardent critics cannot deny that he saved us from relegation in 2012. At that time the fans were chanting his name ! What went wrong ? I do feel that we were treading water and it was time for a change - crowds dropping (the lowest for twenty years), no progression in cups, a new record of five successive home games without a goal and not beating Norwich in nearly ten years. However, I think some of the very personal criticism has been harsh.

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blueherts added 14:45 - Mar 29 We have to look at this and say has he moved us in forward in the league - No Have we brought some great youngsters who are now part of the team - No Has he improved the playing style of the club - No Has he bought the fans back through the turnstiles - No Yes he kept us up and one season we squeezed into the play offs thanks to Derby That aside the last 12 to 18months we have not moved foward His deal with ME ( who needs to step up and show himself BTW) was probably I will go but let me tell everyone it was mutual !! He did not justify another season Now lets bring in Downes , Nydam , Dozzell , Morris , Webster , Kenlock and start building a team around the youth - we do have some good academy players - And look at a younger hungry manager from lower leagues ! - Nathan Jones is a decent punt

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runningout added 15:01 - Mar 29 Not into cowardice comments. Haven't got a clue who I would like to replace MM.. Maybe Hodgson when he leaves Palace at end of season
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BotesdaleBlue added 15:06 - Mar 29 All told this is the right decision for all concerned. I have supported Mick for most of his time here, but we way things have been going, not least with the massive drop in attendances, it is the right move.
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coolcat added 15:26 - Mar 29 Sorry to see him go but he was going to go at some point. Wish Mick all the best for the future. One of football's good guys. Will be interesting to see who comes in on the budget Mick had. Will still be renewing my season ticket regardless, as I love this club.
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leftie1972 added 15:39 - Mar 29 There are at least 3 must win games now that MM and TC need to get results at to have some sort of dignity when they leave. Birmingham, Forest and Millwall are all do-able and if they end the season on a losing streak they're prospects in football will look bleak!
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leftie1972 added 15:40 - Mar 29 Sorry, and Barnsley!
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BeattiesBackPocket added 15:44 - Mar 29 Firstly yes Mick and TC did come in and stabilise the club at a difficult time with possible relegation looming and for that i'm thankful to them both no doubt. He was the right manager at the right time we needed that tenacity throughout the squad and "Hard to beat" mentality. The play off season yes he didn't spend much but was helped extremely by Murphy's ONE PROLIFIC SEASON AND that guy people slate Sears who came across from Colchester and fired some goals playing UP FRONT and we finally found a decent partnership (we know how that turned out for Sears sent to the wing less effective then looses confidence) but this was the reason! The football was still terrible at best but we ground out results due to Murphy and the resilience of the team. But do not think the football was great but still excellent to get to the play offs. Since then what? The football has been boring, players continued to be played out of position, negative football at home even against teams with lower budgets he'd play 7 defensive players like Rotherham (Their only point away from home last year was?) Burton,"proper blokes" bought in and played at the expense of some good youngsters, yes Mick introduced these but dont be under any illusion Dozzell would've played any games had it not been for injuries to Huws and Adeyemi, the kids ONLY get played if the favourites are either injured OR banned, even if playing guff they will still be in the team so NO the 5 point plan ISNT WORKING! Those who say he done a great job on a shoestring to a degree yes and Evans does need to answer to this what is he doing running us a a tax right off OR seriously going to invest SOME money. HOWEVER what about Joe Royle he came in club in worse state than now in administration, all his best players sold, bought through a couple of kids and players from lower leagues and built on those players and got us to 7th, 5th and 3rd playing some good expansive football as well. There are managers in their respective leagues who are working to tight budgets around bigger clubs with bigger resources look at Plymouth and Scunthorpe both vying for promotion in tough leagues with the former looking for a second promotion in successive seasons so NO Mick isnt the ONLY manager who can work with nothing! Thanks for stabilising us Mick but the past 3/4 years have been terrible at best and that is NOT the fans fault we got fed up with it either!

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alfromcol added 15:51 - Mar 29 The king is dead, long live the king. True to form Mick is still having a pop at the supporters for ruining the enjoyment at PR!!!! Thanks to Mick for keeping us in the Championship in his first season and then a bit of excitement getting the playoffs (care of Derby's unexpected failure at the last hurdle), however, difficult to be thankful for much else over the last few years.

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blue75 added 15:52 - Mar 29 Well said BeattiesBackPocket very realistic summary of McCarthy's time here.
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Blue_Meanie added 15:56 - Mar 29 First time I've known the TWTD site to crash......... something going on????
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Fansince72 added 16:02 - Mar 29 As a true fan for over 47 years I never thought I'd ever feel so relieved to see the back of any Ipswich manager or player .... but the FA cup games against Lincoln and the months since then, were the final straws for me. I'll not be crying any tears for MM when he leaves as I've shed them all thinking of the damage he's done to my beloved Ipswich Town .... " Good riddance to you and everything about you! ".

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jjhbruno added 16:07 - Mar 29 calling fans numbskulls is a new one. what a sad sad man, just get lost you idiot.
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:07 - Mar 29 still people harping on about McCarthy saving us from relegation ! that was six years ago ,its history. The way things have been going we would be back where he started .We need to look forward not back, As pleased as I am this decision has been made, I do fear we will jump from frying pan into the fire if Mc Claren is given the job.As for McCarthy not going till end of season is concerned , it may not be such a bad idea,if it allows more time to appoint the right manager. THE IMPORTANT THING NOW ,is that Evans sees the whole situation as a wake up call, invests or sells up .The club is bigger than McCarthy BUT the problems are bigger than McCarthy too.

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senduntd added 16:12 - Mar 29 Very disturbed by this news. Very decent bloke who treated his players very well, he made mistakes along the way but who hasn't? Who will go now? Skusie said he wouldn't stay if Mick went, he would be a great loss. If our injury list hadn't been so horrendous this probably wouln't have happened. At least we can look forward to reading this site without having to put up with the vitriol from the lunatic fringe. Never understood how a lot of it was allowed.

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TractorBeezer added 16:17 - Mar 29 Thanks MM and TC for keeping us up on a shoestring, a few good signings and developing your relationship with players and staff. I have generally supported you but the Lincoln debacle, negative tactics and and frequent two fingers at supporters caused me to doubt. In my opinion this is the right time for a change. It's not being thin skinned its wanting to see better football by more than 10,000 supporters. I wish you both well for the balance of the season and your future endeavours. Some more visible leadership from ME would also be helpful at this critical stage. UTTBs

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rubbleblue added 16:17 - Mar 29 What ever it costs get the Cowley's. Home is Essex work on a budget of not much. Attacking football and fully commit to building up a club.
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