Town managing director Ian Milne says the search for a successor to departing boss Mick McCarthy is well under way but has asked for patience as Blues owner Marcus Evans finds the right man for the job.

McCarthy met with Evans on Wednesday when they agreed that the current Town manager will move on when his contract comes to an end in the summer, the club announcing his impending exit, along with that of assistant Terry Connor, the following morning.

“They made the decision between them to go their own way,” Milne told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch on Monday prior to the Millwall match. “Mick’s going to see out his contract and that’s the way it is.

“At the moment we can’t comment on these issues, refer to the recent press release we sent out [on Thursday]. There will be future announcements as and when they become available.

“In the meantime we have a number of matches to play before the end of the season, so let’s get behind the club, the manager and the team, that’s very important.

“These are important decisions for the club and we need time so fans have to be patient with us. We’ll come out as soon as we can with the right announcements. I’m sure the majority of fans will understand our position on this.”

Milne agreed that the appointment is one of the most important of Evans’s 10 years at Town.

“It is. It’s a case of who’s available,” he added. “It is important for the club and for all of us to here to make the right decisions and we’ve got to give him time to make those decisions.”

He says the search is well and truly on - “Yes, it is” - but wouldn’t be drawn into outlining a precise timetable and whether the identity of the new man will be made public before the end of the season or in the summer.

“It all depends on how the search goes,” Milne continued. “[Marcus] wants to make a decision as soon as he possibly can.

“That’s all I can say at the moment because it’s a search like any other search. When you’re looking somebody you want to get the right person and it’s a case of making the right decision, something not to be rushed.”

When Evans has made previous managerial appointments he has sought advice from figures throughout the game, Harry Redknapp famously among them, and Milne expects he will similarly be sounding people out this time around.

“I’m sure he’s talking to all his footballing friends, acquaintances, agents and what have you,” he said.

Will senior Town figures such as George Burley - who was in the directors’ box yesterday - and Terry Butcher be among those he speaks to?

“I can’t say precisely who he’s going to talk to, I don’t know all his list of contacts,” the MD continued. “But I think anybody he feels is relevant who can give some ideas.”

Asked whether the new man might be handed an increased budget following his appointment, Milne said: “We’ve got to wait for Marcus’s announcement on that and the future strategy going forward.”

Milne confirmed that Evans, who we understand is currently on holiday in Barbados, is set to do an on-camera interview with the club’s iFollow service, the first time the Blues’ owner will have made a public appearance since taking over at Town just over a decade ago.

“He’s promised to do that, that was in the announcement, so I wait with interest on that as well,” he said.

Does that interview indicate that Evans will have more of a public profile in the future? “I’m sure he’s going to spell that out in the strategy going forward.”

Quizzed on the decision to keep McCarthy in charge for the final eight games rather than appointing a caretaker-boss, Milne said: “All I can say is that there were discussions between Mick and Marcus and that was the decision they came to. I don’t know any more than that.”

He added: “It’s business as usual to the end of his contract and, including myself, we have to be patient.”

Milne says the aim will be to appoint a unifying figure after a fractious couple of years under McCarthy.

“We don’t want anybody to be a disunifying person,” he added. “Going back to the matches for the rest of the season, I think we owe it to the players to get behind them, they work very, very hard week in, week out and they’re going to be very professional in that and I think we should all give them our backing and continue to do so.

“We’ve got a great skipper in Luke Chambers and we’ve got to help him as much as possible, get behind him.”

Prior to the announcement that McCarthy would be leaving, the club revealed that season ticket prices would drop by 10 per cent for 2018/19, a move Milne says has received a positive response.

“I’ve had a lot of good feedback about the 10 per cent reduction,” he said. “[Fans] have said that’s fine, no grumbles at all about it, which is great, but they want to know where the club’s going in the future.”

Ideally the identity of the new manager will be known before the early bird deadline on April 30th but Milne says that won’t necessarily be the case as the most important thing is to get the appointment right.

“Marcus put in his announcement that that’s his intention, to try to get that announcement out. Bear with us,” he said.

“I don’t know if he’s going to name any successor [by that date] but I do believe there might be more on that announcement, we’ll have to wait and see. He’ll be coming out with it either before the early bird or after. It’s a search and you don’t want to rush it.”

You can listen to the full interview with Milne here.

Photo: TWTD

Lennyboy added 22:52 - Apr 3 I haven't commented on this site for a couple of reasons, firstly that Evans doesn't really seem to want to invest heavily enough for us to push onward; and secondly because I forgot my password. However, password regained I would like to say this. When Town played Derby away just as McLaren hadn't officially taken over but was in the ground. We were 4-0 up at half time and McLaren went into to see the Derby lads with the result that we drew 4 - 4. I haven't forgotten that. Something to ponder on.

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Walk_the_Wark added 23:54 - Apr 3 This has made me so happy!, I stopped going to games months ago because I could not believe how bad things had got under this man. Finally, 3 YEARS too late he's gone. Finally we can start playing again and rebuild. Of course I want a young progressive manager, but quite frankly this clown made even Keane look good.
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hollywoodginge added 01:39 - Apr 4 Gcon- At the time of writing Skybet still have Cowley as favourite.
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madmouse1959 added 02:33 - Apr 4 Will Ipswich finally find the formula that gets the manager, players and supporters as a united force ? If Evans still thinks he can leave it all to the new manager then nothing much will change under a restrictive regime. The big thing missing from this club is a club owner leading from the front and showing some passion that the supporters would relish. Hopefully we will get a manager who will not play his mates but uses the best players at his disposal and that includes more chances for the youngsters.. Lets hope we can build a fresh squad and a more exciting team on the pitch every week.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 05:47 - Apr 4 The most worrying part of Milne's otherwise empty comments is the phrase, ”It's a case of who's availble.” Maybe a penniless Town is not such an attractive propostion for the young, forward-looking manager most of us seem to prefer. So we get lumbered with a totally useless P because ”we interviewed several others, but no-one wanted the job.” I will be close to despair if that happens.

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H1960 added 07:43 - Apr 4 I wouldn't be surprised if he suggests painting the turnstiles next lol
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oldblue added 07:58 - Apr 4 Read George Burleys comments in the EADT today..the most sensible appraisal of the way forward I have seen..forget big budgets trust in your coaching and the academy players coming through and build a future ...7 or 8 loan players a season is not building a future. read it MM
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black_shuck added 08:18 - Apr 4 We can't afford another millionaire failure like McCarthy or Pardew
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rollercoastertown added 09:49 - Apr 4 I all honesty, who do we really expect to take on what has become a poisoned chalice of a managers job. No money available, nothing less than play offs will be seen as progress, and all to be achieved whilst placating a fan base that expects nothing less than to achieve this whilst playing 'The Ipswich Way!' If you was an up and coming young manager progressing through the leagues, would you take this job? Would this really be the next stepping stone to a glorious managerial career? So how do we get past this problem? Do we once again go for the wily experience of a well travelled and well connected journeyman manager? There is a third option, if there has been one success in recent times, it has to be the current flock of youth emerging from our academy. Why not look at continuity with these youngsters. Employ from within. Progress our managers and coaches as we do our players. Give this job to one of our own, someone who will have a genuine desire and passion for this club and the players and the fans. Build a support mechanism from inside out, obviously experience on the playing side will still be required to be imported, but have some belief in the work that the Alan Lee, Gerard Nash and countless others do for this club and start building our future around them and the work they have done. Just sayin......

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Carberry added 09:54 - Apr 4 Don't ask me difficult questions about the next manager or club strategy, ask me about the colour of the new carpets I have ordered for the offices.
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Razor added 10:17 - Apr 4 Some worrying things in what the puppet has been saying. Is it really true that MM and TC decided to go themseves----I am not sure If I believe this----surely Evans said enough is enough-----I hope so anyway. Milne thinks Evans is on holiday-----he should know where he is every minute of the day---not think he knows, that is diabolical and just shows how amateurish the club has become. Mase the ace----put Nigel Cloughs name forward last week and glad you agree----may take some time though but quite happy to wait.

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black_shuck added 10:35 - Apr 4 Who is Ian Milne?
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:56 - Apr 4 H1960, the way things have been going they would do that about 5 minutes before they open , they don't seem to be able to get anything right .
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blueboy1981 added 11:13 - Apr 4 We need Burley and Mogga back at the Club - couple that with an Owner who really wants the Club for the RIGHT reason - and we'll all be in the Stands and SINGING again. Not asking for much - forget the garbage of small club, over achieving, limited budget, etc; - in other words excuses for failure - all a load of ROLLOCKS. Money isn't everything in Football - wake up and look around you for proof.

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barrystedmunds added 11:20 - Apr 4 Lennyboy, I know your pain!!!
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WoodfordTim added 11:33 - Apr 4 Alan Pardew now 6/4 with the bookies. Mogga 8/1 Thought Pardew was very good with West Ham when they beat us in the play-offs. Twice, I think. We desperately want to get in the Premier League. £180Mn+ now for a promoted Club is it? Could Pardew do it for us? I think he could. I think that we would have a better chance with him compared to any of the previous managers that ME has brought in.

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warktheline added 11:41 - Apr 4 Ipswich Tiwn Football Club is an excellent opportunity for any manager prepared to work hard long term starting with the youth system upwards ! Balancing short term objectives...entertaining football/productivity in terms of points on board!
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