Blues caretaker-boss Bryan Klug says manager Mick McCarthy needing to be escorted to the team coach, as happened at Brentford following the game last Saturday, was “totally wrong” and is “not the club I know”. Klug, who is in charge of the Blues for the final four games of the season, hopes the rift between fans and club which he says has even impacted on academy recruitment begins to be healed during his short spell at the helm.

McCarthy, who departed on Tuesday after the 1-0 victory over Barnsley, was subjected to greater levels of abuse than at previous games by sections of the away support at Griffin Park, leading to widespread criticism from other supporters, even among some of those similarly happy to see him departing.

A number of the former boss's detractors waited for him at the end to continue to make their thoughts known as the squad and staff prepared to return to Suffolk and he was escorted to the coach by Bees staff.

Speaking at his lunchtime press conference, Klug wasn’t keen to talk in too much depth about the schism between the former boss and the club’s support but was evidently disappointed by the treatment meted out to McCarthy.

“I’m really not make any comment on that,” he said. “I can’t do anything about that. I want everybody thinking about being positive really.

“There are certain things that have happened, it’s totally wrong that a manager of Ipswich Town has to be escorted [out of the ground].

“Whatever’s gone on that’s prompted me having to be here today. That should never, ever happen, that’s not the club I know, it’s not the people I know. That’s all I really want to say about it.

“The only other thing to say is, ‘Can we be positive now? Can we please be positive?’. I can’t stress that enough.

“I was speaking to the lads and said Portman Road has become a very difficult place to win and credit to you all for getting a victory on Tuesday, so really I don’t want to dwell on it.”

Reflecting further on the gulf between club and fans which has opened up this season, he added: “It’s really sad, it’s really concerning. I’m not going to go into any detail, but that’s the past, hopefully we can put all that behind us and all enjoy what is a great football club.

“I live in the town, I’ve lived in the town for 40 years now, since I came down here in 1977, so I know what the club means to everybody and it breaks your heart to hear people... even at academy level it’s started to affect our recruitment and that’s never happened before.

“But that’s the past, I just hope people come down and enjoy, which is what it’s about, isn’t it? It’s supposed to be enjoyed.

“If nothing else, if we lose all four games you guys will be all over me, I know that, but if at the end of this month I can see that something’s started to knit back together then that will be a success for me.”

Klug says contrary to some claims McCarthy was very good with the club’s academy players and on occasion gave them their chance earlier than he anticipated.

“I actually came back from Tottenham a few months before Mick came in and I can remember the first meeting with him, talking about the young players and six years ago we didn’t really have a lot that were going to be able to help him,” the 57-year-old recalled.

“But over a number of years I’ve toiled with the rest of my staff trying to improve that situation, and that’s ongoing obviously, and he’s been absolutely brilliant with the players. I think the record of actually giving players opportunities is second to none.

“I think we’re right up there in the Championship with minutes for U23 players, sometimes obviously through circumstances.

“From my point of view I only want them to go in when they’re good enough and they’re going to stay in there and improve the team.

“He’s helped me develop those players and has been very supportive of the programme that we’re putting together to try and ensure we get very good young players.”

Photo: TWTD

Kesblue66 added 17:48 - Apr 12 I would never condone bad anyone to behave badly ,but if McCarthy had gone two years ago like he should have done none of this would have happened .Peoples patience just ran out.Another point is if was doing such a good job,why did gates fall by almost 10,000,Fans are not idiots.
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Wickets added 17:49 - Apr 12 Agree with Klug's comments 100% but the Norwich game celebration and one or two other comments made by Mick where also ,at the very least least, regrettable.
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Cakeman added 17:50 - Apr 12 Welcome and wise words from Mr Klug. I was certainly very pleased to see McCarthy go. His relationship with a lot of the fans including me and not just a small minority I would add was broken beyond repair. The last straw for me was his unprofessional outburst at Norwich. However I am sure that deep down away from the mad football world McCarthy is a caring and decent chap. The behaviour by some of our supporters I read about at Brentford was unacceptable and he did not deserve to be treated like a criminal. A sorry chapter now closed and we must now look ahead not back. Whovever is appointed as boss I would hope he or she gets the deserved support and is not criticised before a ball has been kicked.

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blue75 added 17:55 - Apr 12 There's no excuse for threatening behaviour towards McCarthy after the Brentford game, the fans are allowed to voice their concerns at him but to need a escort is crossing a line. Roy Keane ripped the heart out of club killing to academy!! Jewel was dealt a crap hand and didn't stand a chance McCarthy was the wrong manager at the right time!! We needed him to get hold of the players and sort them out, which is exactly what he did. Klug was brought back to rebuild his academy which is now ready to supply players again. You can't blame the fans for problems recruiting young players I think towns new reputation for playing poor football has helped with that. From now on people need to forget which side they were on in/out back Klug 100% win,lose or draw it's the Ipswich way. We need to make some noise and support our boys you'll be amazed how quickly they'll appreciate us appreciating them, make them feel wanted and the new manager will inherit a happy talented squad!!

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Mcarthyout added 17:59 - Apr 12 12 minus votes.Take a good look at yourselves. You've all been asking for it to happen for months and now its happened u all see something else to moan about. Unbelievable calling us non supporters for wanting this get a f*cking grip u lot how about get behind the team and actually go buy a ticket to the game
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TractorRoyNo1 added 18:03 - Apr 12 He's gone and time to start the healing process, but please stop making a few lads at Brentford sound like the SAS. McCarthy would have been hounded out at his beloved Leeds months even years before he was at Ipswich. He overstayed his welcome as he did at Wolves and Sunderland, I wish him well at his next club.
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pragmatic added 18:04 - Apr 12 Every numkskull who confines the bile & abuse to Mcarthy & even our own “real supporters” get out of our club you will be found out & sorted out eventually !!
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pragmatic added 18:05 - Apr 12 Correction Condones the bile & abuse!!
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TheTrueBlue1878 added 18:06 - Apr 12 MM is the past, end of. Back to being ITFC.
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mickymacsbarmyarmy added 18:08 - Apr 12 Makes me chuckle that Leeds fans of all people are spouting off about how badly we've treated Mick, we'd love him at Elland Road blah blah blah !! The abuse he received towards the end while sometimes over the top would be twice as bad after a fortnight of watching his drivel
6

warktheline added 18:09 - Apr 12 Human nature amazes me! Somebody dies, gets the sack, or whatever, out they come in numbers paying unreserved 'homage' ! Get over it 'mickites' , so McCarthy gets a 'helping hand', if my memory serves me right it isn't the 'first' club he's required 'extra hands'! It wasn't long ago you 'numbskulls' were telling all and sundry to 'get over' f***offgate!! It's not 'nowt to be proud off' but it should never have gone so far down the 'ignore the vocal majority' road!!!....it's not big, funny or clever for all concerned !!

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ashp19 added 18:12 - Apr 12 Well said BK! A voice of reason and integrity. Almost all of us are behind the Ipswich way.
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tractorboybig added 18:13 - Apr 12 Who created the behaviour????? if you don't listern if you treat the paying customer as a dim wit then what recourse do they have????????????
4

jas0999 added 18:23 - Apr 12 I wanted a MM out in recent years, but never once booed him or the team. This sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable and those that undertook this should be utterly ashamed. That said, MM should never have been put in this position. Another big mistake by ME who should have put him on gardening leave. Was never going to end well. Seems like it didn't and whatever anyone's opinion - mine included - Mick didn't deserve that.

3

Tony88 added 18:25 - Apr 12 I do believe it was the numbnuts who started to abuse MM and could not understand why he retaliated.
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MrJase77 added 18:32 - Apr 12 The ripple effect from these idiot "fans" needs to be halted right now.
2

blue75 added 18:35 - Apr 12 Pragmatic you criticise fans for bike and abuse aimed at McCarthy then you lower yourself to the level you're criticising by threatening to find them and sort them out? Are you a one man army?
6

Pip50 added 18:39 - Apr 12 Be careful what you wish for, numbskulls, fcuk off, sh.t football, mid table, banal Yorkshire comments, lack of youth promotion, playing yer mates, one season of competitiveness, dwindling crowds. Feels like when I left the first wife, couldn't remember why I went there in the first place.
3

Blue_Moses added 18:42 - Apr 12 I'm not condoning what happened but if they aren't supporters why did they pay to go to Brentford? Takes a lot of dedication for someone to do that.
3

therein61 added 18:45 - Apr 12 While not Micks biggest fan in his tenure and my frustration at his methods I have on this site vented my feelings, but I have never at a game home and away contributed to the verbal abuse that has been directed towards him(he has not deserved that as a human being) I can to a certain extent understand his reaction at times but he has fallen on his own sword when saying "I don't give a toss what fans think" and other comments towards the fans very early in his appointment(and then the classic eff off up the road) to that end with his attitude it was never going to be a marriage made in heaven!! anyway that is the last time I hurt my fingers on the subject I will now take pleasure in the anticipated positive(on and off the pitch) onward attitude that is now in the building at long last.

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Tony88 added 18:52 - Apr 12 There seem to be a few regular protaganists missing from the site today, I wonder why?
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Swn98 added 19:09 - Apr 12 A list of McCarthys numbskulls prebbs007 meekreech worker warktheline TrickyTaricco trncbluearmy Mcarthyout Seasider
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TimmyH added 19:29 - Apr 12 God! the PC brigade and 'do gooder' Gcon has landed, do we know what behaviour Mick had to endure to be escorted to the bus at Brentford?...probably no, maybe just some harsh words from a few supporters and that's at a thick skinned Yorkshire man who gives as good as he gets. Grow a pair Gcon and co.
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bluebudgie added 19:36 - Apr 12 Add me to the list Swn98 and rejoice along with us that we have finally got rid of a manager that halved the attendance ,couldn't hold a press conference without swearing,abused the fans at every opportunity,told ITFC fans at Norwich on national TV to F off,you snowflakes and happy clappers make me sick as if you had all had your way we would have had to endure another two years of that awful man with his boring tactics and bile.You all go on about how bad the fans behaved and said that's not the Ipswich way, well if you think having a manager that sets his team up to destroy and not create, uses foul language at most press conferences and abuses fans and never talked of his pride in managing ITFC,but about his own "brand" and couldnt accept critism is now the excepted way an Ipswich manager should behave, then you are the one who is not a true supporter as Alf Ramsey, Bobby Robson, and the Cobbolds would be spinning in their graves at how McCarthy treated the ITFC fans.Good riddance to him as another two years of McCarthy would have killed the club.

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blue75 added 19:40 - Apr 12 Swn98 you need to frozen up and let it go. Everyone needs to move on Mick's not here anymore and he's not coming back time for everyone to sing from the same hymn sheet. Comments like yours are divisive and not needed .
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