Blues MD Ian Milne has reiterated that Town are unlikely to appoint their new manager before the end of the season with owner Marcus Evans carrying out a “considered search” for the successor to Mick McCarthy. Fans are likely to learn more on Evans’s thoughts regarding the hunt for a new boss in the next few days with the owner’s first on-camera interview expected to be released this week.

“You’re quite right to ask and no there isn’t any news,” Milne told BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch when quizzed on developments prior to Saturday’s game against Aston Villa.

“No choice has been made. It’s still very much a search, Marcus has not made his mind up.

“It’s going to be a proper search, a considered search, it will take us probably past the end of the season, so be patient with us. We all want the right manager and the processes will take place.”

Lincoln City boss Danny Cowley and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, who is understood to have held discussions with Evans, are currently the joint-favourites for the job at 5-1 with Bet Victor.

Paul Cook, whose Wigan side secured their return to the Championship at the weekend, is behind them at 6-1 with Tony Mowbray, whose Blackburn team now looks all but certain to join them, the fourth favourite at 10-1.

St Mirren’s Jack Ross, whose squad has already secured the Scottish Championship title, is fifth favourite at 16-1 along with VVV-Venlo’s Maurice Steijn, who has played down reports in Holland claiming he has already been lined up to take over at Heerenveen this summer.

Milne says supporters will hear from Evans in the near future: “Hopefully during the next week, we’re doing it at the moment and hopefully [it will be out] by the end of the week. Bear with us on that one.

“And it’s very important that the owner talks to the fans. He’s not hiding from it, he wants to do it, he’s [written pieces for the programme] and [been interviewed by Mark Murphy for] radio and it’s so important that he does this. He is coming out with that.

“I have my place to get the messages over and hear what the fans say and I thoroughly enjoy that and I’m always open to the fans, the same as my colleagues. We are approachable but I totally understand they also want to hear from the owner.”

Photo: TWTD

parhamblue added 14:54 - Apr 23 No malice at all to Ian Milne nor his predecessor Simon Clegg. But unless the club get a high calibre CEO who is equipped to lead a professional sports club then the new manager is going to have to be able to fulfil part of that role as well, which is what Mick, Jewell and Keane were faced with. I watched an interview with Wolves CEO and absolutely poles apart. But is Evans the kind of owner who can trust someone who has his own ideas? He needs to as he can never be as involved as he would like to be.

4

Seasider added 15:19 - Apr 23 I am heartened that there is paper talk in Holland as well as here,which is often wide of the mark. Maurice Steijn had to scotch rumours about him going to another Eredivisie Club;so I hope that the fans favourite (over 25%)will end up here at Ipswich.
5

TheTrueBlue1878 added 15:53 - Apr 23 Has to be Paul Cook or Mark Warburton, the only two who would fit this club. Anyone else i think would be a failed appointment, (Mogga won't leave bb, Steijn going elsewhere).
0

warktheline added 16:22 - Apr 23 Cowley's or Steve Clarke for me! Absolutely laughable posts on here calling Cowley's 'hoof ball' ! Clarke has a good track record at clubs. The Dutch lad doesn't know English game or players, would be a massive gamble! Mowbray's record is poor prior to Blackburn ! Cook is an attractive option, record speaks for itself! Gerrard/Lampard, biggest gamble of all! Surely no chance !

3

Gcon added 16:24 - Apr 23 Avram Grant for me.
0

parhamblue added 16:48 - Apr 23 Roberto di Mateo for me.
1

Swn98 added 17:43 - Apr 23 Carlo 88 doesn't matter what he sounds like it's how he gets the team to play hat matters
1

Swn98 added 17:44 - Apr 23 that.
0

SpiritOfJohn added 18:06 - Apr 23 Give George Burley Milne's job and then he can appoint Mogga as manager. Simples.
4

armchaircritic59 added 18:06 - Apr 23 First choice for me is Maurice Steijn, then any of Marco Silva,(might have a fight on our hands with Benfica for that one!), Arsene Wenger ( highly unlikely), Glen Hoddle (without Eileen Drewery!), Nathan Jones (may want to continue great job at Luton), also a shout for a guy that's done an amazing job at Accrington Stanley (with pretty much no budget!), John Coleman. Jack Ross is an interesting one, i wonder if he's going to take a very similar path to Alex Neil, who got Hamilton Acc promoted from Scottish Championship, then did an excellent job with them in the Scottish Premier League ( not the greatest top league in the world i know!), then of course, the rest we know. An outside punt i'd say.

5

mark24 added 18:06 - Apr 23 Will they extend the deadline on cheap season tickets until they appoint a new manager
1

ivandeighton added 18:08 - Apr 23 Hope it won't be Coleman from Sunderland
2

blueboy1981 added 18:51 - Apr 23 What do people want from Milne ? - more to the point, what can you expect from him ? - he is only a Club spokesman in the absence of a Press Officer. So important to get the RIGHT Manager in - so have patience. All is asked is some common sense from people - but, common sense is no longer common. is it ?
3

WestSussexBlue added 18:59 - Apr 23 Having little money to spend isn't a problem. It's how we go about getting the best from the resources we have, which is a very good academy and very promising youngsters already in and around the First team. I would like Mowbray Venus and Chambo and at all costs keep Bart and Dozzell and set a 3 year plan in place.
3

blueboy1981 added 19:29 - Apr 23 People keep talking about Cook from Wigan, and Mogga from Blackburn - both are extremely unlikely to be tempted away from where they are now. Cowley and Stejn would both be more likely possibilities, however, may be too much of a gamble for different reasons - perhaps. Maybe a step to far at this stage for them both, but I do like the idea of another Dutch connection with the Club. Both have had success at their current levels of the game, which cannot be denied. I personally think we could all be in for a surprise - whether we will be ecstatic, or despondent, when the time comes remains to be seen. Onwards and Upwards - and most important of all - FORWARDS. Hit the minus button - my normal critics - for posting nonsense yet again, as you put it. Who really cares ? - I don't for sure. What I genuinely care about is the future success of our Club - and always will. I will therefore continue to post accordingly - criticise, and praise where / when due.

5

Berts_chin added 19:43 - Apr 23 I would be happy with Steijn. I would also be delighted with Paul Tisdale of Exeter City. Just look at his record and, having been there since 2006, he's not a one or two season wonder. Exeter play highly entertaining football on a miniscule budget, I honestly believe that he'd be ideally suited to the Town job.
6

IRTractorboyz added 20:04 - Apr 23 Smoke and mirrors the decision has already been made
1

bluewarrior added 20:34 - Apr 23 Paul Cook now 6/5 with most bookies having started at around about 20's. Watch this space!
2

ITFC76 added 20:57 - Apr 23 Vic I agree with a lot of what you have said especially in terms of Keanes and Gerard's characters however in terms of experience Keane joined us having taken Sunderland from the bottom of the Championship to the Premier League and having learnt from the best of them all in Sir Alex and look what happened there. Let's be honest there are no guarantees when you employ anyone that they will be a success unless of course you are managing one of the Manchester Clubs with endless pots of Money. For me there is no stand out candidate and I for one am worried that we could be looking at division 1 unless the purse strings are loosened and the new emcumbent gels with the players and of course the club.

3

stiffy501 added 22:50 - Apr 23 Like the look of the Dutch man, cook and the Cowley brothers maybe, but for some reason part of me still thinks Nigel Clough would be a good fit here given time and and a little cash. Certainly plays football the right way ! !
3

Gcon added 23:30 - Apr 23 Paul Cook and Paul Hurst's odds have both really shortened today. Surely Cook is likely to stay at Wigan if they are promoted to the Championship.
1

Ippy89 added 06:03 - Apr 24 I would like us to gamble on someone with connections to the club - give Shefki Kuqi a chance
-4

CraigEdwards added 07:06 - Apr 24 Maybe it's got nothing to do appointing now as they are paying up the contracts of the other Two upto 1st July. My guess is they will wait until the end of the season as the new guy is not available until the season is over and compensation may less !
1

oldblue added 07:57 - Apr 24 Gary White( see EADT) great CV fantastic philosophy no baggage burning ambition works on a budget...whats not to like
1

Keanos_Barmy added 08:07 - Apr 24 This might not be popular re style of football, but how about Sam Allardyce if he parts company with Everton. His record for transforming teams is second to none. Don't know that a) he'd want to come here or b) we could afford him
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