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McCarthy Leaves Town With Immediate Effect - Updated With Audio
Tuesday, 10th Apr 2018 22:16

Town boss Mick McCarthy’s departure with immediate effect has been confirmed. McCarthy, who had been due to stay until his contract is up in the summer, announced his departure at the end of his post-match press conference with the club releasing a statement soon afterwards.

“I spoke with Marcus at the weekend and we agreed that it was in the best interests for me, the players and the club that I move on now,”he told the club site.

“I said I would see the season out but it’s been a new experience and it’s not one I have been enjoying to be honest.

“I have continued to do my job to the best of my ability but there is something missing and I’m not comfortable with that.

“I have had a great time here and worked with some great people and to all those who have given me wonderful support over the last five and a half years - and there are many - I want to put on record my personal thanks.

“The players here can look forward to a new challenge with whoever comes in and I want to wish them, the staff and the club the best of fortunes.

“I’ll also be looking forward to a new challenge elsewhere. I’ve still got a lot of football in me.”


Assistant boss Terry Connor has also left the club with immediate effect following tonight’s match. It's understood the duo will say their goodbyes to the players at Playford Road on Thursday.

Town will announce who will be the caretaker-manager in the next day or so but we understand Bryan Klug and Geraint Williams will be put in temporary charge.

“I want to reiterate my thanks to Mick and Terry for their fantastic service to this football club,” owner Marcus Evans added.

“I have always enjoyed a good relationship with Mick and that continues and on behalf of the football club I want to wish him and Terry the very best of luck going forward. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see them back here next season in the away dressing room!”

McCarthy announced his departure, which would have happened whatever tonight's result, at the end of his press conference when asked about the fans’ reaction to debutant Barry Cotter’s substitution, which you can hear below.

“A disgraceful reaction to that. But listen, I won’t have to listen to that again because that’s my last game, I’ll see you when I see you. I’m out of here,” he said as he got up and walked out.

Tonight's game was McCarthy's 279th in charge of the Blues, the 59-year-old having taken charge on November 1st 2012. Of those games, he won 105, drew 78 and lost 96, a win percentage of 37.63.

Earlier in the press conference, McCarthy had commented on the game: “I thought the lads were excellent, the first half was a tough game. Kieffer had hit the cross-bar, we both had chances. I thought we got better and better and was really thrilled with the result.

“We’ve had a clean sheet so that’s pleasing. We’ve not been good at home recently so we might have been a bit nervy, I don’t know, but we played really well in the second half and we should have won by more in the end.

“Jonas is a really good player for us and I’m delighted for him. Jonas is a proper player and I’m delighted for him.”

McCarthy was asked what was left to play for with the Barnsley win mathematically meaning the Blues cannot now make the play-offs: “Pride, points, always want to win.”

Adding to his earlier comments on the performance, he added: “I hope [fans will have left having enjoyed it]. It was a good performance and Barry Cotter caught everybody’s eye, another one that it looks like we’ve done really well on.

“He’s just got personality, he’s got a twinkle in his eye, he’s got technical ability, he’s quick and powerful, he’s got everything to be a player, I’ve just fancied him ever since he walked through the door. He came as a centre-half, I said ‘No chance, he’ll be a right-back’ and that’s what he’s going to be.

“He’s going to be a good player for Ipswich Town. He’s been a really good signing. If that’s his standard on his debut then he's only going to get better.

“He’s great, he’s not a shy boy, he’s a great fella, that’s why I put him in, I knew it wouldn’t faze him, he’s got really good ability as well.”

Was his withdrawal pre-planned? “Not at all, he was knackered. I said to him at half-time, he had his socks down, I said, ‘You tell me if you’re struggling’.

“He’d just let the wide player run on him twice and, of course, he wasn’t going to tell me because he wants to stay on the pitch.

“And that’s the art of management, knowing when to take him off and Wardy was brilliant, he was great,” he added before being asked about the fans’ reaction to the change.


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tomitfc added 22:16 - Apr 10
We got him in the end guys 😁

hampstead_blue added 22:17 - Apr 10
managed out....phew!
-16

WaffleMan added 22:17 - Apr 10
Well sounds like I can buy a ticket for a game again, best thing for our clubs future.
9

lightingblue added 22:17 - Apr 10
Was just about to say in Mick we trust and be careful what you wish for.
21

RaymondovicBlue added 22:18 - Apr 10
Thanks Mick. And thanks Terry.
Now we can all move on

Here's to a fresh start for all concerned next season

COYB
83

MVBlue added 22:18 - Apr 10
The best for both parties. So long Mick. Now we can see change.
20

lightingblue added 22:18 - Apr 10
In all seriousness, may I wish you all the best Mick and Terry for the future
79

SheptonMalletBlue added 22:20 - Apr 10
The nightmare is over!!!!!!!!!!!!😀
-28

sheddy71 added 22:20 - Apr 10
can't believe all the comments on here, people forget what state Ipswich were in when Mcarthy came here. I wish that he could have had a better send off from the fans as I certainly appreciate what he has done for Ipswich. I look forward to seeing who our next permanent manager is but wish McCarthy all the best for his future
90

Terry_Nutkins added 22:20 - Apr 10
Thanks for all your efforts and hard work Mick. You did an excellent job for the most part and many will remember what you did for rhe football club when you took over and you have left a good squad with emerging talent.
78

irish_tractor added 22:21 - Apr 10
I wish mick all the best for the future a great manager that worked wonders with money that other clubs spent on one player that he spent in 5 years. He deserved more respect than some showed him. Disappointed but nothing but respect for mick. Thanks mick
51

Reuserscurtains added 22:21 - Apr 10
Thank you Mick for the good times at the start. Time to go after the recent times.
Overall Mick has done wel with limited funds, you can't race super cars with a Ford Fiesta. Maybe now it's tkme to give our new manager a better engine and create a club the fans can love again!
45

Tony88 added 22:22 - Apr 10
Tomtit
Your Arrogance is astounding.
18

blackcat added 22:23 - Apr 10
Breaking news
Ipswich see a surge in season ticket sales 🤗
-6

blackcat added 22:23 - Apr 10
Breaking news
Ipswich see a surge in season ticket sales 🤗
-19

DoseOfReality added 22:23 - Apr 10
SWEET JOY !!

Long overdue. Kept us up but left club in a downward spiral of ever increasing boredom.

Next appointment has to work but just glad the optimism can return !!

Best news for a very long time 🍾🍾🍾🍾
7

hello66 added 22:23 - Apr 10
The New Dawn starts .... I will attend a game now before end of the season.

I'm sure there will be many others too !

One extremely optimistic Ipswich town support tonight .
8

ozzie added 22:23 - Apr 10
Now I will purchase my season ticket knowing that a different style of football will be played allowing our homegrown players some game time.
Thank you for the ups and downs MM&TC.
1

blackcat added 22:24 - Apr 10
Breaking news
Ipswich see a surge in season ticket sales 🤗
-15

Joetown95 added 22:24 - Apr 10
Thanks Mick we would of been in league 1 without in the end leaving became inevitable. Thanks for the first couple of years though certainly better than what Keane and Jewell brought us. Let's hope the new manger plays a better style of football get more money from Evans and all the fans get behind him. COYB
22

tractorintheloft added 22:25 - Apr 10
Typical of ME inexperience not to have put him on garden leave when the original decision was made. Took MM to push him in that direction. I fear the next decision could be equally poor. I really hope I'm wrong.
11

carlo88 added 22:25 - Apr 10
He should have had a proper and respectful send off, is the least the man deserved. Obviously won't happen now.
48

StringerBell added 22:26 - Apr 10
Finally, the correct course of action. Thanks for the job done in 12/13 but the product has largely been atrocious.
We move on to much better things hopefully.
4

LondonBlue73 added 22:27 - Apr 10
As a town fan and season ticket holder for 32 years this upsets me. Not that MM is leaving, that is the right thing for our club. The football, the atmosphere and most things have not been great the last two years and certainly time for a change.
What upsets me is that a man who has worked hard for our club with little support from the owner has worked to the best of his ability. He has given limited on talent players a pride and heart.
His reward quite vile and personal andover the top abuse. I was at Brentford on Saturday and had to move my young children from hearing what so called supporters were shouting. Those supporters should be ashamed. If you saw the players faces let alone MM I wouldn't blame those players for not wanting to play in front of those fans again. Shame
78

jpring89 added 22:27 - Apr 10
Cheers Mick but this is the best all round. Thanks for saving us and the play off year. Good luck in your next job.
25


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