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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.


Photo: TWTD



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Swn98 added 00:07 - Apr 11
Well the boo boys and numbskulls on here have won, such a sad and undignified ending.
At least your last game was entertaining watching Kieffer Moore tonight showed why you were justified in selling him.
May i wish you and TC all the best in your future club.
Finally reading the posts on here tonight showing support for MM and the disgust at some supporters from many people who havent posted for along time just goes to show it wasn't the majority that wanted him gone.
-3

blueboy1981 added 00:08 - Apr 11
......... anyone would think we had just lost the best Football Manager in the whole world.

GET A GRIP. If this Club is ever going to move forward - and stay above the Carrot Road Clan - he wouldn't have lasted as long there, so doesn't that tell you something people ... ????

Is the ambition still there to stay / be the Kings of East Anglia..... ?? - THEN LETS SEE IT - instead of misty eyes.
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H1960 added 00:09 - Apr 11
@ seaside / Westbrook blue.......hear hear
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blueboy1981 added 00:11 - Apr 11
Swn98 ......... the wind has changed - you're as deluded as ever. I'd give up if I were you, your hands must be sore by now .... !!

And by the way - do you stop clapping at night ?
-3

pazzy added 00:17 - Apr 11
thanks mick and terry shame it had to end like this lets hope we got a good leader and give him more money than mick had lets unite and get behind the club for everybodys sake COYB
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blueboy1981 added 00:18 - Apr 11
I hope the 'happy clappers' don't ever have the audacity to question the Owners ambition for the Club - now that would be hypocritical to the extreme, because they constantly prove (again tonight) that they have NO ambition for our Club either.

Thankfully, they are the MINORITY - although deluded enough to think otherwise.
-1

Swn98 added 00:22 - Apr 11
Bluebore you really are a nasty piece of work.
-1

Elto added 00:29 - Apr 11
blueboy

It's not about him being 'the best football manager in the world'. It's about respect. Something, despite your advanced years, you don't seem to have mastered.

Didn't you 'leave' the site a few weeks ago vowing to never post again? It's a shame you are not true to your word.
-1

Dog added 00:32 - Apr 11
Looking forward to seeing a massive crowd at the next home game. All the fans will return as promised including bluebell81.

Now phil - your website really is mediocre. You have served up the same old drivel year on year. It encourages fans to be downright abusive. The writing is poor. It lacks creativity. Any chance you can follow mick and leave.



-18

blueboy1981 added 00:35 - Apr 11
Elto ....... no more or less than most would expect from you.
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sarahjean1 added 01:02 - Apr 11
Tomti, your comment is disgusting,
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MicksZzzTactics added 01:05 - Apr 11
@Swn98

Correction Mr. Self-Righteous:

" It show it wasn't the majority -- OF TWTD MEMBERS ONLINE ON 10-04-2018 -- that wanted him gone"

Ehhh have you ever noticed the poll near the upper right corner, which has been there for like months now on just about any TWTD page???

See what is STILL shows to this very hour???: 1912 for Muck Out .... 740 for Muck In.

(And on EADT + IS' latest big Muck poll the percentage result was about same only with what I believe was nearly twice as many respondents up to the end of his reign! i.e. about close to 4000 wanted Muck gone)

But keeping it strictly here on the TWTD turf, have you thus EVER seen a post here with 740 downvotes ...or upvotes??? :-) lol :-)
Or one could turn it around and view it from us 'Naysayers' point of view: Have you thus EVER seen a seen a post here with 1912 downvotes ...or upvotes??? :-) lol :-)

Alas for the umpteenth time you fabulous "reasoning" & "argumentation" is as *flawed* as it is *laughable* dear @Swn98! ... Cause besides these pesky and won't--go-away poll numbers and exactly like your one of other OCD targets and arhcenemies here [@warktheline] duly noted & inferred: There is absolutely NOTHING strange or remarkable about your "mourning" MM worshipperZzz being out in MASSIVE numbers tonight... cause not only are you "understandably" sad & upset, but additionally and perhaps much more importantly: Muck's immediate and very abrupt resignation has fundamentally CHEATED you fabulous lot out of giving him the very likely planned soooo grandiose "Heroes Farewell" at PR in the season's finale on May 6!

Period end of story!

And now let that truly awesome mass downvoting commence... ROFL!
0

midastouch added 01:06 - Apr 11
One man's meat is another man's poison.
Therefore some will be very sorry to see Mick go and others will be delighted.
Let's not dance on any graves and instead look forwards now.
Nobody can deny that Mick has been paid handsomely for his time here so he shouldn't feel too hard done by. He's had a lot longer innings at Ipswich than he would of enjoyed at many other clubs in the league. At Leeds they change their managers quicker than I change my water filter. A lot of managers in the Championship have a life expectancy less than a toothbrush. So Mick's done alright out of Ipswich even if the managerial removal van came along a bit sooner than he might of expected or preferred.
Mick's financial future is secure and he could still be the perfect fit for a club like Barnsley which would probably welcome him with open arms given his roots there. Good luck to him. As Seasider said, it would be churlish not to wish him the best regardless of personal opinions of his managerial ability. The fact is he's gone so in truth there's no point us picking apart Mick's managerial carcass any longer. Let's try and look forwards now rather than backwards. COYB.
10

irish_tractor added 01:19 - Apr 11
Pathetic what some feel they need to post here. Mick done everything and more with the players and budget he had. If by chance you find the jesus of miracle workers that can get a team to the premier league on a shoestring support him as you will the next 3 or 4 managers that will come and go in the next year.
4

jhn added 01:35 - Apr 11
Thanks for your time in charge Mick and Terry. Good luck
for the future!
10

madmouse1959 added 01:40 - Apr 11
Things would of been a lot different had we played more enterprising football on a more regular basis, every week, win or lose. We should of tried to win a game in cup competitions
The defeat to Lincoln in the FA Cup last season was the beginning of the end as supporters were embarrassed by that performance on live television.
Other than that Mick did not do himself any favours .The whole package at the club was a shambles to be fair. Evans stayed in the back-ground whilst MM took all the flak. Very sad. A message to Marcus Evans is that this is no way to own and run a football club.!!! The supporters DO MATTER so start leading from the front Mr Evans.
6

Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:10 - Apr 11
Doubtless the McCarthy haters will have unrestricted joy at this hour in time, but however you feel personally, there's no sense berating the man further. He's been castigated left and right in recent time and clearly been under pressure so let's allow the individual a break and (as fans) part at least on amicable terms.

Relief that it's finally at an end and Ipswich Town Football Club both as a club and a business can hopefully move on to bigger and better things, but as before allow the man some room to maneuver and find his feet before taking his next appointment than perhaps further unnecessary castigation.
8

stewartm added 04:26 - Apr 11
Happy and sad! the football become real bad, the selections were frustrating to say the least but in defence of Mick he literally did perform miracles with the financial constraint set upon him. Good luck MM and Terry I just feel you both had a bad deal here.
Lets hope the next manager does not have the same constraints because it will be same of the same or even worse!
2

muccletonjoe added 05:24 - Apr 11
Cheers mick. You will in time be considered with alot more affection than many would have you believe.
4

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:02 - Apr 11
I'm not really expecting a sudden improvement in results now Mick has gone. Without investment from the owner, that seems pretty unlikely in the longer term. I am hoping for an improved atmosphere around the club generally, and for people who voted with their feet to now prove that they are still supporters by returning en masse. Let's try to get some unity back and pride in our club, win, lose or draw - hopefully coupled with a somewhat more exciting style of play on the pitch. But if it all goes pear-shaped, then all of us, particularly those who have been very negative, will need to accept the consequences. I'm looking forward to the new era, but I'm totally uncertain of what it will bring.
7

Sam added 06:09 - Apr 11
Thanks for everything Mick, glad you ended on a win and you are a top manager no matter what some people post. However, the time has come to leave and he has. PLAYOFFS HERE WE COME!!!!!!
0

trncbluearmy added 06:27 - Apr 11
classy to the end eh Mick

should have gone after the Lincoln game

ME don`t cock this up
-2

skelly202 added 06:35 - Apr 11
Best of luck for whatever the future holds Mick and Terry! Maybe one day the facts behind your time as manager will come to light with regard whether finances were available or not. Some say you had funds available if you required them, others say ME needed to release the purse strings. One thing I am certain of you were satisfied that you carried out your role to the best of your ability (some may describe this in another way). Even now with Mick going he is very much a 'marmite' man. My one hope, irrespective of who the new manager is that the fans of this great club that I have supported since a young boy please, please, please come together. Yes, it is football and everyone has an opinion but recently the atmosphere in the ground and on TWTD has not been pleasant. The MM era is over and ME now has a massive decision to make. Whatever ME's decision there will be some that agree and some that disagree all we can do is keep supporting ITFC! P.S. I will admit that I was also going to renew my season ticket regardless of who was manager - I don't always agree with the managers but ITFC is my club!
7

LegendofthePhoenix added 06:42 - Apr 11
MM did his best and we owe him a big thank you for keeping us in this league, for the results in the early seasons, and for teh brilliant business in the transfer market with his hands tied. That said, his departure was well overdue. The biggest problem we have is ME, he clearly has no interest in putting any cash into the club, and if you aren't prepared to do that then you shouldnt buy a football club. Please sell up Evans. The next biggest problem is the amount of frustration that has built up in the fans and manifests itself as negativity in the stands, this just has to stop NOW. It is time to show how we can actually support a team, and create an atmosphere where a good manager is going to see us as an attractive proposition. Paul Hurst top of my list.
6

lightingblue added 06:44 - Apr 11
I was not at the game last night. If it were true about the fans booing the young lads we substituted, then I find it an absolute disgrace that the fans should behave in that manner. He may well have been knackered or it may have been the case that McCarthy have wanted a warm applause for the lad. Furthermore what I do find disappointing is that when I started going in 1983 and even though that was the era for football hooligans, Ipswich was always considered a nice place to watch a game of football in a safe and friendly atmosphere. Unfortunately it seems this has changed. People have moaned about McCarthys attitude towards the fans, but have people considered that with all the stick he was getting, then there was always going to get a reaction sooner or later. Maybe he had overrun his stay here but let's be honest, why should someone walk away from a job without having having another lined up. His still a living to make.
Ok I'm not saying his Lilly white perfect, but who anybody have taken this amount of stick in their work place. People are saying they want their Ipswich back. Can that please start with the fans acting the way they should in the manner Ipswich fans have built their previous reputation on.
10


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