West Brom’s technical director Nick Hammond was at Portman Road to watch this afternoon’s 2-2 draw with Millwall - perhaps manager Mick McCarthy’s last game in charge of the Blues - as the Baggies search for a replacement for Alan Pardew, who was sacked this morning.

McCarthy appears to be firmly in the running to replace Pardew, despite having previously been in charge of their greatest rivals Wolves.

West Brom are currently bottom of the Premier League, 10 points from safety and seem certain to drop into the Championship.

McCarthy leaving the Blues this week, as he appeared to hint after the match, could open the way for him to take charge at the Hawthorns for West Brom's final six games of the season.

If that were to happen Town would put a caretaker-boss in place with former Colchester manager Geraint Williams, who has recently been working at the academy running the U18s along with Alan Lee, a strong candidate to take on that role given his senior management experience.

Also in the Town directors’ box today was Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill, presumably to catch Town’s Stephen Gleeson, who has won four caps, and Millwall’s Aiden O’Brien, a recent call-up who is yet to make his international debut, in action.

Ex-Blues striker Shefki Kuqi - currently without a job having left his role as boss of Finnish side Inter Turku last August - was also again at Portman Road having also been at the Sheffield United match earlier this month when he told Life's a Pitch he'd be interested in becoming Town manager.

Meanwhile, Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst is the latest manager to be linked with the soon-to-be-vacant Blues job.

According to HITC Sport, Hurst, 43, is among those in the running to replace McCarthy having impressed since taking over at the Montgomery Waters Meadow in October 2016.

The Shrews are currently second in League One, a point behind Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn Rovers.

Former Rotherham left-back Hurst was previously joint-manager of Ilkeston Town, Boston United and Grimsby alongside his former Millers team-mate Rob Scott before taking charge of the Mariners on his own in 2013.

Photo: TWTD

Moisha added 08:56 - Apr 3 http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11763/11009885/darrell-clarke-interview-b Similar job from Darrell Clarke as Paul Hurst, plus he'd bring Marcus Stewart with him
3

bedsitfc added 09:01 - Apr 3 http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11719/11095976/paul-hurst-interview-shrew Very interesting
1

rugbytomc added 09:32 - Apr 3 I'd be very happy with Hurst. I don't know why Mick has stayed after announcing he's leaving. Surely the experience Gerard Nash would get from taking charge of 8 first team games with no pressure on him and whatever other coaches (Lee, Dyer perhaps) they gave to assist him, would help their development as coaches and potential future managers. Just a thought
2

dirtydingusmagee added 09:32 - Apr 3 yes tractorboybig, Evans has probably already got one of the dogs lined up . Sit, stay,roll over,fetch.DOWN BOY .
1

BlueBlood90 added 09:58 - Apr 3 Yes: Cook Mowbray Cowley Hurst Steijn No: Kuqi Grayson McClaren Warburton Pardew
4

Stato added 10:11 - Apr 3 I wonder if our board have ever heard of Hurst? He looks like exactly the right fit for us and would surely get the support of most fans. Pardew would polaris us with some like myself feeling very bitter still about his aggression towards big fat Joe
3

GREYBLUE added 10:16 - Apr 3 MM to WBA would seem a strange move for an ex Wolves manager
1

floridaboy added 10:24 - Apr 3 WBA obviously looking at MM who is used to working with next to no budget. WBA .are in deep financial trouble. Looks like a large amount of cash has suddenly 'disappeared' and they are relying on bank overdrafts to pay wages. Also senior players causing all sorts of issues as well. Good luck Mick. If you can sort that lot out then you deserve all you get paid!!!
2

pazzy added 10:39 - Apr 3 still got a feeling George burley is going to come into it
3

itsjustagame added 10:53 - Apr 3 The numbskulls have won! It's not ITFC, the manager or the owner who make a club it's the whole community and sadly the echo chambers of the Internet and Media - not least EADT's unprofessional writers (inexperienced Watson and 'should know better Hunt') have encouraged outrageous behaviour in the ground. Because of them, relegation beckons and smaller crowds. No better manager than MM.

-12

jnp2408 added 11:18 - Apr 3 Perhaps Hammond/WBA are considering Neil Harris as an option and not MM. Hurst looks like a very good fit on every level for me
2

tractorboybig added 11:19 - Apr 3 itsjustagame: who created the present behaviour, discontent and desertion?
4

itsjustagame added 11:32 - Apr 3 tractorboybig: Sadly those who don't really stop to think what they are doing. Yes, lots wrong at ITFC, but afterall it really is just a game and somebody has to win and somebody has to lose. AS for boring football - not alot to get excited about on TV either really if we are honest. Money has spoilt the game.
-1

Fansince72 added 11:36 - Apr 3 itsjustagame: you really are a dumbskull if that's want you think. I've seen a lot of football over a lot of years, good and bad. MM, due to his own over-bearing self-belief and arrogance, has alienated a majority of fans with his abusive, angry and bitter attitude towards us. He has now boxed himself in with only one way out .............. he should take it as soon as possible.

5

blueherts added 11:36 - Apr 3 If I was at PR from WBA i would be looking at Neil Harris before MM ! Hurst or Jones be happy with
7

runningout added 11:52 - Apr 3 Good luck Mick.. didn't finish well, but heyho
0

Edmundo added 11:53 - Apr 3 I'd take Hurst over Cowley Bros for two reasons: style of play and, perhaps more importantly, proven pedigree at a higher level. Not much between National League and League 2, but big gap between League 2 and 1, let alone the Championship.
2

alial added 11:58 - Apr 3 I know it isn't a popular choice with some but found this article on McClaren a good read. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37655418 The decision the club makes is going to be a difficult one. Yes, there is the exaggerated ideal of having someone young. I for one would like to see this happen. But, and it is a big but, I wouldn't mind someone coming in as a director to oversee the young manager who has experience in the division. For argument sake... Lampard with Redknapp as a director of football. Good relationship between the 2. In an ideal world, Mick and Town part ways now. It makes Footballing sense. It widens the divide between the Fans and the Club the longer it goes on. Ideally, we get someone in for the last few games who can assess the current situation and who can therefore make the changes before pre season. Rather than have someone start trying to alter the team etc from the start of pre season. However, as I think the majority can now see, Evans treats the club as a business. He can't see the economic benefit of replacing him now. In business terms it would be completely inefficient. I worry this is what football has become, a business. I keep telling myself it isn't, but it is all too obvious now. Teams have gone to the Prem with a similar budget to ours. We tend to forget our wage bill is one of the highest in the division. If Evans doesn't want to invest any more, then we need someone who can actually coach the younger players. Similar to what McClaren has achieved.

-3

Lightningboy added 11:59 - Apr 3 My first choice is the Mowbray/Venus combo. Otherwise i'd much prefer to see us take a bit of a gamble on somebody like Hurst,Cowley,Nathan Jones our even Kuqi rather than all the obvious merry go round failures like Pardew,McClaren etc etc...no thanks! I fear our owner will make a right pig's ear again though...He needs advice from an Ipswich man.
1

BeattiesBackPocket added 12:14 - Apr 3 I really am sick of the Mick "Inner" brigade of how the fans are to blame blah blah. We have been subjected to boring no shots on target at home for 70 minutes football AT BEST for over 3 years! This is the first real season hes been getting alot more stick. Comparing our fans who have been tolerant for 3 years on poor football to those at Forest, Sunderland, West Ham and many many more clubs when their fans bay for blood after half a season or a season max of dross we have had this for 3 BLOODY YEARS and its become worse since his biting at the fans! He is paid big money close to 1 million a year call me a C**T all you want if im on that money!! So please stop saying our fans names just because we want better and arent prepared to watch this dross. He shouldve gone after the Lincoln debacle but no the fans still stuck by but 3 years IS ENOUGH! Id like to see Mogga back but i'd be happy with Hurst or Adams from Plymouth who are also possibly looking at back to back promotions. And to those fans saying theyre not happy with the names being strung out well weve tried the so called bigger names and where has that got us? Burley wasnt a massive name in the management world but look what happened there.

4

Southamptonblue added 12:35 - Apr 3 Steijn, Mowbray, or Hurst for me. I just hope that Evans doesn't ask Harry "Not a Wheeler-Dealer" Redknapp for advice again.
3

yungblue added 12:39 - Apr 3 Would snap up Paul Hurst in a heartbeat, doing an incredible job at Shrewsbury.
3

1RWR added 13:54 - Apr 3 it'sjustagame: Your piece beggars belief! Do you know what.....I'm not even going to rise to the bait.........oooooI already have!
1

Cheshire_Blue added 14:19 - Apr 3 We need someone with League 1 experience ready for 2019/20. Onwards and upwards for MM. He deserves it for his efforts with ITFC in very difficult circumstances
-2

Seasider added 16:48 - Apr 3 At last I have had confirmation that the Geraint Williams we have on the coaching staff,is the 'George'Williams who took the 'U's' for their one and only time into the 2nd tier. He is therefor the obvious candidate as caretaker manager,having previous experience.With Brian Klug as his number 2,as Brian has experienced previously in that position at Ipswich.Think it was with Jim Magilton,although not sure ? This should have happened at any rate,as clearly Mick is not happy.

1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls