Town owner Marcus Evans says it’s unlikely that the new Blues boss will be appointed before the end of the season. Last night Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor left the club with Bryan Klug put in temporary charge for the final four matches.

“Appointing a manager is one of the most important - if not the most important - decision an owner of a football club will make,” Evans told the club site.

“I have started the process but I will take all the time I need to find the right person.

“A lot can happen around the end of the season with managers so I want to be in the best position I can be before making an appointment.

“I can’t rule it out completely but I don’t envisage confirming our next manager until the season is finished.”

A number of the potential candidates for the job - including former skipper and coach Tony Mowbray - are currently in work and are unlikely to be in a position to decide on their futures before the end of the season.

Lincoln boss Danny Cowley remains the bookies' favourite, 5-2 with Bet Victor, ahead of Blackburn manager Mowbray at 10-1, while other possible contenders such as Shrewsbury's Paul Hurst and Wigan's Paul Cook, both 16-1, also still have something riding on their seasons with their current clubs, as have Luton's Nathan Jones and St Mirren's Jack Ross, both 25-1.

Following the departure of Mick McCarthy, Ipswich Town owner Marcus Evans will be speaking on-camera for the very first time in an interview that will be made available to all #itfc supporters. pic.twitter.com/JTAyvk529B

— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) April 11, 2018

Former Blues striker Shefki Kuqi, currently without a club and at 12-1, is among those to have formally applied for the job, while it's understood ex-Reading manager Jaap Stam, 33-1, is also one of those in the running. Another Dutchman, VVV-Venlo's Maurice Steijn, has been repeatedly linked.

It's understood Town are keen to look at recruiting from the younger crop of up and coming managers rather than a more senior figure.

Former England manager Steve McClaren, 10-1, and ex-Rangers, Brentford and Nottingham Forest manager Mark Warburton, 14-1, have been linked by the tabloids.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who was at Griffin Park to watch Saturday's game against Brentford, is also believed to be interested but appears very much an outsider having been sacked by Northampton recently, while Leicester City assistant boss Michael Appleton, 25-1, is another who could apply to become only the 16th full-time manager in the club's history.

Ex-loanee David Unsworth, 25-1, is also said to be keen but again would be a surprise choice given his lack of first-team management experience.

Portuguese boss José Gomes claimed he was in "early negotiations" with Town earlier in the week but again seems very unlikely to be in contention.

Photo: Action Images

phil_itfc_brown added 10:49 - Apr 11 I hope klug enjoys it and does well... I would like to see him go for it full time but apparently he is not interested in it... my choice would be Cook from Wigan but he won't be free... exciting times! I have my tickets for the AV game! Let's see some youth and attacking footie!!
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Lightningboy added 10:52 - Apr 11 Yes please wait until the season is over rather than rush to appoint someone off the merry-go-round currently out of work (NOT Pardew,McClaren etc). Mowbray & Venus would realistically be my 1st choice. Steijn I find interesting & he could be a match made in heaven. Heart would love someone like Kuqi but probably too much of a gamble? This one HAS to be right Marcus..the last 9 years have been an unforgivable waste of time. Please someone at itfc/twtd/eadt get him to take advice from ex Ipswich players like Burley,Osman,Butcher,Mills etc.

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Woodbridgian added 11:11 - Apr 11 Marcus : Time to try something different the same old same old hasn't worked. Give the fans a vision to believe in and a person to inspire and win hearts and minds. Your biggest decision ever but the real fans will behind you if you make the brave choice. Whtever you do not McClaren or Pardew that would be a disaster
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parhamblue added 11:18 - Apr 11 Perhaps Evans' biggest decision. He should not be afraid of managers who play expansive attacking football and play it through the midfield. And anyway, the Robson and Ramsey teams also had their hard men. I wait to see whether the interim appointments are part of a real transition away from the Mick and TC style. One candidate who is not being mentioned is Roberto di Mateo. He ticks many boxes and is apparently available, living in the Midlands.

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midastouch added 11:18 - Apr 11 Would be good if Marcus finally came into the public eye a bit more now. We've had enough of him hiding in the shadows. If he came out a bit and did the occasional interview and we could hear his thoughts on the direction he wants to take the club, if he spoke eloquently and he seemed genuine in his passion for taking us forwards it would help build some broken bridges. To be coin a phrase from Not So Dishy Delia, c'mon on Marcus, let's be 'aving ya!

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rugbytomc added 11:27 - Apr 11 PLEASE can we stop interviewing Milne? He's more of a joke than Clegg. Clegg at least pretended he knew what he was on about, Milne just says "I don't know" when asked about ANYTHING! His wife must find him incredibly irritating - what shall we have for dinner? I don't know. What shall we do today? I don't know. Where did you leave your brain? I don't know. How on earth did you get this job? I don't know

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KiwiBlue2 added 11:31 - Apr 11 Had hoped for Klug for interim. Would be great if Evans had Burley or Mills involved as an adviser on ongoing appointment. The field of candidates seems to be widening nicely. Still favour one of our own Mogga as best bet at this time to get fans back
4

BlueandTruesince82 added 11:40 - Apr 11 Shout for Titus today, understand he is on the verge of Bankruptcy...... never like to hear that for one our boys.
0

TimmyH added 11:47 - Apr 11 A shiver runs down my spine as I read McClaren as short as 10-1 but quite surprised too to see Kuqi as short as 12-1...surprised no ex-Ipswich players other than Mowbray mentioned!
4

TimmyH added 11:50 - Apr 11 @Gazelle - very true, but there are some names on there which will displease far more. Hopefully Evans will steer clear of the 'merry go round' ones.
4

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 12:03 - Apr 11 Fair enough! We'd rather wait for the right appointment.
2

Monkey_Blue added 12:24 - Apr 11 Steijn is for whatever reasons the one who I would be happiest to see come in. Klug wouldn't be unpopular but his record in the Academy makes me prefer to see him stay there
9

bobble added 12:39 - Apr 11 Angelos "Ange" Postecoglou is the man for the job....
-1

Southamptonblue added 12:39 - Apr 11 Steijn, please let it be Steijn.
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bedsitfc added 13:10 - Apr 11 I have said this before but Our u23 and youth teams play a certain way (maybe Brian klug influence) and the first team for the past few years have played a different way. I know if a pro can play one way they should be able to play another but why not have all from first team to u10's playing the same way. Surely it makes integration from u23 to first team easier?
8

Ipswichbusiness added 13:19 - Apr 11 We will still be paying MM and TC until the end of the season, so the argument for leaving them in place was that we would at least get some work from them. However, given the vast, corrosive negativity this decision has to be the right one. My choice would be Hurst, Cook or Hoddle.
2

terryf added 14:29 - Apr 11 FEAR OF FAILURE WAS McCARTHY'S DAMNATION!!! Annoyed with some comments from outsiders suggesting the grass is not always greener. These people need to have been at Portman Road for the past two or three seasons watching the dross we've had to endure. As for saying our fans have been pathetic with their comments, whilst I don't condone abusive language, if he'd been at any other high profile Club he'd have received alot more calls for his head. I think he's got off pretty lightly. Lets hope the new Manager has progressive ideas, is tactically sound and not afraid to give youth a chance to shine. Take your time Marcus we need a good one!!!

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Swn98 added 15:24 - Apr 11 Seasider dark clouds lifted um think they could be descending.
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Swn98 added 15:25 - Apr 11 When you see names like Jimmy Floyd in the hat Progress!!!!!
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terryf added 15:32 - Apr 11 Parnham Blue...agree about Roberto Di Mateo. West Brom must rue the day they let him go. I remember his Team coming to Portman Road and playing us off the Park.
5

Swn98 added 15:32 - Apr 11 IF he'd been at any other high profile club he would of had more resources so you cant make a direct comparison.
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finidi added 15:35 - Apr 11 Did,nt I read somewhere that McClaren was part of a group looking to buy a football club, perhaps with him as a GM, with a younger manager.
0

BlueBlood90 added 15:37 - Apr 11 did someone seriously just say Glenn Hoddle???? Hahahaha he talks absolute nonsense on TV and hasn't managed for years!
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terryf added 15:44 - Apr 11 Swn98 Err!! Sunderland and Wolves. So what happened to those high profile clubs under McCarthy's reign??? Good luck to the next Club he takes over. They'll need it!!!
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warktheline added 15:52 - Apr 11 'The Changing Man' swn ! Last week 'The bridge building man', this week 'The bridge wrecking man'....Hell hath no fury as swn scorned! 🙈🙉🙊.....'Evans' help us! 😂😂
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