Caretaker-manager Bryan Klug has reiterated that he has no intention of becoming the Blues boss beyond the final four games of this season and says he wants the players to take his approach of aiming to become better every day during his short stint in charge.

Asked whether he was proud to be asked to take on the role, the academy’s head of coaching and player development said: “In some ways, it’s nice to be considered for something like that but obviously there have been circumstances leading up to it, and when you care about the club like we all do, you don’t want those things to happen.

“It’s quite an unusual circumstance as well, going in and talking with the players today I said to them these things happen when results have been really, really bad so it needed a change.

“But it’s not really that kind of situation, everybody here in the training ground is sad to see Mick go.”

He says he was called up by owner Marcus Evans earlier in the week, manager Mick McCarthy having made his decision to move on following the Brentford game at the weekend.

“He rang and it was a phone call I didn’t want to take,” Klug added. “I’ve no agenda here at all, I’ve been very lucky to be around the football club a long time so if I’m asked to do anything for the football club I’ll give it a go and do it to the best of my ability.

“Like I say, it’s not something that I sought or even thought about but when the question was asked obviously I’m willing to give it a go and do the best that I can.”

Any hesitation about taking the role? “I think the owner’s words were, ‘There’s no one else so you’re going to have to do it’! I took that as a compliment.”

He says whatever happens it will just be for this season’s remaining four fixtures: “No agenda on that at all. Obviously Marcus is going through a process [of finding a new manager] and that was part of the conversation for me to say that I’ll cover it for as long as he wants me to and it looks like it’s going to be to the end of the season.

“He’s working on [a successor to Mick] and hopefully we can all help and get the right management team in here which fits the club.

“But for me, like I’ve said to the players this morning, that is not what I do now. I haven’t got the qualities, I don’t want some of the qualities that I think you have to have to cope with this job.”

The 57-year-old spoke to the squad this morning and wants them to take a positive approach to his short spell at the helm.

“We talked about that this morning,” he continued. “They’re professional players, you’ve got to compete in every game and give everything you’ve got.

“Where I’m coming from in my world everything is about getting better every day so I want them to come in, not just thinking we’ve got four games, three games or whatever. I want them to have that attitude that we’re going to do the best that we can today.”

Klug is known to be someone who favours a passing game but knows there has to be an element of pragmatism when going into Championship matches these days.

“It’s very difficult to get the balance right, isn’t it?” he reflected. “In my world, the U23s are playing out there today, it’s not make or break win, lose or draw, it’s about learning but I think you have to be pragmatic in the Championship.

“I think it’s a very tough league. It’s such a different game from 10 years ago when Jim [Magilton] and I were doing it, the game has changed.

“The analysis is leading a lot of it and so the organisation is more pragmatic. Of course you can be very expansive if you’ve got the best players but if you’re not organised it’s very difficult to play at that extreme.

“I think pragmatism, being organised [is a must] or otherwise you’re going to get overrun.”

Photo: TWTD

bluerico added 16:05 - Apr 12 Seems to be a level headed guy. Good luck to him and his team in the next four games.
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marco007 added 16:13 - Apr 12 I get the impression that he has taken the role under a bit of duress and your can see why he has no ambition for the job longer term. Nice guy, but he seems to be way too timid for the dog eat dog eat world of the Championship where results are everything. Sounds like he can't wait to get back to coaching the kids and that is fair enough, as it is a totally difference skills set. Good luck Bryan :)

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BlueMachines added 16:14 - Apr 12 At least he acknowledges that football has moved on in the last 10 years! Getting the players sufficiently motivated will be his toughest challenge. Choosing young hungry players should help that element. Good luck to the guy.
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blackcat added 16:20 - Apr 12 As long as the last games entertain us I do not care about the results as long as we win lol. I think we could now upset one or two of the contenders for play off spots as we will no doubt be more attacking
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COYB11 added 16:27 - Apr 12 What have you been smoking then blackcat? On a serious note, BK seems like a good guy who is going to do his best for the club. Lets give him the support he deserves. COYB!
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ronnyd added 16:41 - Apr 12 I agree in a way with blackcat. Would rather see a more attacking performance even if the results don,t mean wins. Though it wouldn,t be difficult to be more attack minded, would it? Lol.
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deano85 added 16:52 - Apr 12 In some ways it would be good if he wanted the job, he would have a point to prove, try new things etc. It sounds like he may just tick along for 4 games, doing what works..? Could be wrong, and i wish him all the best, sounds like a good guy who knows his stuff
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:54 - Apr 12 Respect ,Bryan .good luck .
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Miles added 16:58 - Apr 12 Disgusting behaviour by our 'fans' and leaves me personally very embarrassed by the behaviour of some. Anyone who says Mick ruined our club needs to have a long hard look yourself and at us the fans. For all his faults can you all honestly say we are actually any better than Mick? It got very toxic and we contributed to that as much if not more than he did. All we can hope for is a change in perspective so this doesn't happen again. Regardless of who is in charge we all want the same thing. Hopefully a positive change is finally happening and we can start to build again.

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SheptonMalletBlue added 17:13 - Apr 12 He seems a very humble man, unlike the previous one!!!!
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naa added 17:18 - Apr 12 SheptonMalletBlue: and Alex Ferguson was humble was he? It's not a trait a manager needs. I wish this Mick bashing would just end. He did a solid job for us over a number of years but he ran his time. He's gone. Let it go. Jeez.
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therein61 added 17:21 - Apr 12 I feel(although he is not a contender for the job) that Brian and his committee will generate some positivity around the club(already started) and that will be reciprocated from the stands giving the fans some hope for the future and the players an insight to what it's like turning out in front of a rocking Portman road, we Town fans are collectively a handful for any away team I remember Alex Ferguson when UTD came here after the all seating first appeared saying he could not believe the noise that the 2200 Town fans made, more please everyone

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