Recent debutant Barry Cotter says he wanted to stay at Town as soon as he walked into the club on trial a few weeks before he signed from Limerick on the final day of the January transfer window. The 19-year-old has also paid tribute to the man who gave him his memorable debut against Barnsley, former manager Mick McCarthy, as well as his assistant Terry Connor.

Republic of Ireland U19 international Cotter, who is contracted to the Blues until 2021 with Town having an option for a further year, played the first 54 minutes of the 1-0 victory over the Tykes and, having been an unused sub at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, could return to the team when Aston Villa visit Portman Road on Saturday.

“They weren’t the first English club that was interested. I had trials at West Brom, Everton and Sunderland,” writes Cotter in a lengthy piece for The Sports Chronicle, in which he reveals Villa and Everton also showed interest during his time with Limerick.

“Myself and Chiedozie Ogbene [also then with Limerick] went to Brentford the same week we were at Ipswich. Chiedozie eventually signed for them but as soon as I walked into Ipswich I wanted to stay.

“The reason? That’s easy. Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor. Those initial two days felt like months in terms of what I learned from the gaffer and TC.

“Mick will always be the manager who gave me my debut in English football. Words can’t describe my feelings during the 1-0 win over Barnsley. Just the supporters’ reaction and going down to the North Stand afterwards. It was the best day of my life so far.

“The club are struggling with injuries so I felt there was a chance, so I stayed mentally sharp. No one knew it would be the gaffer’s last game.

"An hour before kick-off he told me I would be starting. ‘Go and enjoy it,’ was all he said. So that's what I did. Just went out and expressed myself.”

Cotter says he’ll remain eternally grateful to McCarthy, who dramatically left the club following the Barnsley match.

“I will always get to call Mick McCarthy gaffer,” he added. “It was a pleasure working alongside an Irish football legend and TC.

"They did nothing but look after me. The best example of this is taking me off that night against Barnsley because they knew I was knackered and could blow a gasket. They wanted to protect me.

“I’d play for them any time. It’s just the way both men explained everything so I understood it the first time. Mick is such a gentleman, never gets ahead of himself, treats everybody the same and he’s so smart.”

Photo: TWTD

BLUEBEAT added 20:52 - Apr 19 Why is the 4th Official wearing a swimming cap?
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Suffolk_n_Good added 21:42 - Apr 19 Blimey, sounds like the players are forming thier own “Mick McCarthy fan club!”
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Edmundo added 22:00 - Apr 19 Mick never lost the dressing room. That's certain.
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bluehook added 22:02 - Apr 19 You can stop licking now Barry, he's gone! 😂😂😂
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BlueNote added 22:12 - Apr 19 This just reaffirms that the people who boo'd MM when he took him off are an absolute bunch of d*ckheads
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Gcon added 22:16 - Apr 19 Was respected and appreciated by every player that played for him, that loser Mick McCarthy....
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PortmanTerrorist added 00:08 - Apr 20 Nice comments about MM and TC, but he did get picked by them. Let's be clear here, the lad has done well, the old regime did their job, and Mr Cotter does not have a broad sphere of reference here. Am amazed the Club are letting players come out and talk like this. It serves no purpose whatsoever other than to dredge up emotions we want to put behind us. Are these players all so dumb or selfish as to only focus on what the old regime did and said to them. What about what they did and said to supporters??? What about lack of results, performance, hope. Guess it's OK if you get a game though....right ? Message to Mr Cotter: we like what we see, wish you a long and successful career at ITFC, want to think of you as one of our own....so please do your talking on the pitch.

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shakytown added 06:20 - Apr 20 Always sais Mick was probably a nice bloke but his footy was awful Time to just move on and hopefully improve.
4

Millsey added 07:04 - Apr 20 Unbelievable comments from some of you on here! Just because some of you didn't like him, obviously he did and had a lot of respect for MM who gave the lad a big chance in the game!
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bluehook added 07:53 - Apr 20 Oh God,look above they're all gathering to say “Well I for one didn't want MM to leave, now look at the mess we're in”. Millsey - 😂😂😂
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carsey added 08:53 - Apr 20 Am I surprised at Cotters favourable comments regarding McCarthy and TC? No I'm not because they did give him his first league start. Would you expect to hear such positive comments from the likes of Freddie Sears? No, because McCarthy has totally screwed him over. With the exception of the season he saved us from relegation I have been bored beyond believe with McCarthy, his football his tactics and his belligerence. He may be a nice guy to players and staff but he had no idea regarding the fans and whatever your view of his football he managed to split those who should be always behind the team. Whatever comes now I'm glad he's gone and hope that his successor brings everyone together on and off the pitch.

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whosroundisitanyway added 09:50 - Apr 20 Met Barry at the Felixstowe roadshow. A very smart and well articulated young man. I don't think there's a manager or coach out there that would have a problem working with him. Hope you stay happy at Portman Road Barry.
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ITFC0492 added 10:23 - Apr 20 The players clearly respected and enjoyed working with Mick, however, for the sake of the new Manager I think that it's time now for both the players and staff to move on and understand that Mick is no longer at ITFC. It is a concern that this continued talk of how "outstanding" Mick was may soon become an issue for any new potential Manager - who will want to stamp their own mark on the club and not be worried about being constantly compared to Mick! Many of us have worked for bosses who make work fun and enjoyable internally - that's all great stuff, but if that same boss is not meeting clearly set targets and alienating clients/customers then they won't stay the boss for long.

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shortmarine1969 added 12:05 - Apr 20 Gcon - i give you Roy Keane .!!!
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Seasider added 18:56 - Apr 20 Looked a very good prospect;so lets hope we see some more of him tomorrow. If he does turn out to be as good as appeared in his debut,then at last Mick Mccarthy has brought somebody over from Ireland who will be a success,after at least a dozen failures,during his 5+ years tenure.
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