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Former Boss McCarthy Leaves Ireland Job
Saturday, 4th Apr 2020 16:52

Former Blues boss Mick McCarthy has left his role as manager of the Republic of Ireland with immediate effect.

McCarthy’s contract was due to expire on July 31st following Euro 2020 when he was set to be succeeded by U21s coach Stephen Kenny.

However, with Euro 2020 put back to the summer of 2021 and with the play-offs, in which Ireland will face Slovakia, postponed until later in the year, the handover has been brought forward.

McCarthy was assisted by his Town number two Terry Connor, who has also has left his role.

Although frustrated not to get the chance to lead Ireland at the Euros - "hugely disappointing, but I fully understand it" - the 61-year-old backs his earlier than expected departure.

"I fully support the decision," he said. "It's only right and fair that Stephen gets his chance on August 1st."

The one-time Town, Millwall, Sunderland and Wolves boss has no plans to retire insisting he is "back on the market now so I can look for a job with impunity".

Interim FAI CEO Gary Owens said: “This has been a difficult situation for the Association - and for Mick and Stephen in particular - in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the effect it has had on the football calendar.

“On behalf of president Gerry McAnaney, the board of the FAI and myself, I want to thank both men for their professionalism and their understanding in their dealings with the Association in these unprecedented circumstances.

“These are exceptional times in Irish life and Mick has taken that into account in agreeing to vacate the post early.

“On behalf of the FAI, I wish to express our gratitude to Mick for his service and commitment to our national team throughout his career and particularly in his second spell as Ireland manager.

“We wish Mick and his staff well and we thank them all for their hard work in this European Championship campaign to date.

“Stephen will now begin his planning for the play-off against Slovakia and everyone at the FAI wishes him well in our bid to qualify for Euro 2020. Football will be back and we have so much to look forward to now in the autumn with the Nations League and the UEFA Euro 2020 play-off, followed by the World Cup qualifiers in early 2021.”

McCarthy returned to the role of Ireland manager - which was previously his between 1996 and 2002 - in November 2018, seven months after leaving Town following a five-and-a-half-year stint in charge.

In addition to Connor, ex-Blues fitness coach Andy Liddell was also on McCarthy's Ireland staff along with Dave Bowman in a part-time role alongside his director of football position at Portman Road.


Photo: Action Images



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Bergholt_Blue added 16:54 - Apr 4
Who's going to be the unlucky club to get him now 😄😄
4

fatuncle added 17:05 - Apr 4
Be careful what you wish for he might come back (Shudders)
8

dubblue added 17:07 - Apr 4
To be fair he steadied the ship but he stayed on too long and lost the backing of too many fans.
2

ITFCsince73 added 17:19 - Apr 4
He helped us stay up after PJ left.
Only positive I can come with on this story.
4

ITFCsince73 added 17:21 - Apr 4
Oh and Ireland can carry on getting their game upto modern standards since pre Mick ma second coming.
-2

itfchorry added 18:05 - Apr 4
McCarthy OUT
-1

therein61 added 18:09 - Apr 4
Yesterdays man looking for a job again, agree 73 he did a job keeping us up but then he thought he was bigger than the club with his arrogant don't give a toss about the fans attitude(oh and continually playing his proper blokes when better players were frozen out) his gobsmacked reaction to being sacked and not as he expected awarded a new contract sums him up he has in his advancing years learnt eff all, serves him right.
3

Terry_Nutkins added 18:15 - Apr 4
Still next to no credit or respect given to the man. Mind boggling. In just a short few months under Hurst it should have been crystal clear what a good job Mick was doing. We didn't want his style (which would still have us in champ) which is one thing. To still be taking cheap shots....oh dear.
31

therein61 added 18:21 - Apr 4
Your opinion Terry Nutkins which i respect i also have mine, the cheap shots jibe is in my opinion to be ignored.
1

ITFCsince73 added 18:28 - Apr 4
When Hurst came along I stopped sleeping second half of games.
Unfortunately for Hurst, Mick Ma had agreed to the departure of our better players.
Leaving us with Chambo and Skuse, I'll never forgive Mick Ma for.
-15

Terry_Nutkins added 18:56 - Apr 4
73 that is an incredible re-writing of history!!
10

Dockerblue added 18:58 - Apr 4
Wherever he ends up let's hope he comes for Chambers to go with him.
2

ITFCsince73 added 18:59 - Apr 4
Terry. I think 61 pointed out above. All personal opinions.
-1

itfcjoe added 19:05 - Apr 4
Since Mick left we've gone from mid table in the Championship playing dull football to mid table on League 1 playing dull football and some still think Mick is the problem....!

I've really enjoyed losing our last 3 home games 0-1......
15

ITFCsince73 added 19:09 - Apr 4
And there's me thinking it was lack of squad investment.
Or Bart was no longer in goal.
It's because Mick Ma left...yeh right.
0

Dissboyitfc added 19:14 - Apr 4
Just because Lambert is not the answer it doesn't mean getting rid of MM was a bad decision. Quite simply stayed too long and had to go, end of.
7

Blue041273 added 19:16 - Apr 4
In the modern game it is a truism that management has a limited shelf life irrespective of the qualities brought to the post by the incumbents! Every ITFC manager since SBR ultimately ran out of time, ideas, and general approval! Apart from Jim M, who maybe should have been given more time, every manager seemed to lose the plot and inevitably paid the price. Even top guys like John Lyall and George Burley who engineered success were running on empty at the end of their reigns! So too was MM and his departure became a self fulfilling prophesy because of his attitude towards the fans! Like his predecessors his time was up! End of!
7

Terry_Nutkins added 19:19 - Apr 4
No 73, 61 was talking about an opinion. I disagree with him but it was an opinion so he's right. Changing the facts is not a difference of opinion. You can't make something up that isn't true and say 'difference of opinion'.
11

algarvefan added 19:19 - Apr 4
Whatever Mick's failings, I liked his honesty and considering the circumstances, for most of his period in charge I think he did a good job with the resources available. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Mick lost the fans and had to go in the end, but name me another manager who has done better under Evans reign?
9

ITFCsince73 added 19:21 - Apr 4
Sorry Terry....you've lost me.
-5

Tractorboy1985 added 19:40 - Apr 4
I'm truly embarrassed to call myself an Ipswich town fan!! Not only does the club take £30 out of my bank when no games are upon thee horizon we now have idiotic fans slating MM for doing the job he was meant to do then exceed what he was suppose to do and nearly took us to where we all want to be! When will the numbskulls realise.. yes he had his favourites.. yes it was boring... but the man got results something that the current Scottish haggis is not doing and will continue to fail! I will not be returning to Portman Road for the foreseeable 1. Because our owner milks the club and it's fans 2. The deluded people who can't see what this horrendous owner has done to our club! Embarrassing!
7

BlueandTruesince82 added 19:42 - Apr 4
Mick did a lot of good but much of it was undone by his tenure lasting too long if we'd made a sensible switch after season 3 the base of somethimg to carry forward was there.


Looking back now one could argue he merely delayed the inevitable.

A tenure of 2 halfs but we shouldn't lose sight of the goid
3

Monkey_Blue added 19:44 - Apr 4
Anyone making snide comments about him needs to look at where we are now and what's happened since he left. All the best MM.- he did well for us given the restrictions
7

Terry_Nutkins added 19:47 - Apr 4
I can well believe it 73.
3

ITFCsince73 added 19:58 - Apr 4
Terry. Enlighten me. Snide comments are no good.
0


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