Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has emerged as Mick McCarthy’s main rival for the Town job with the 49-year-old now the second favourite, his odds having been cut to as low as 2/1 by some bookmakers this afternoon.

Town are believed to have enquired regarding the terms on which Holloway could be prised from Bloomfield Road after three and a half years in which he has taken them into the Premier League for one season and to last May’s Championship play-off final, where they lost to West Ham.

According to reports at the weekend, that would cost the Blues £500,000 with chief executive Simon Clegg having confirmed that Town would be willing to pay compensation in order to get who they felt was the right man for the job.

The one-time Bristol Rovers, QPR and Plymouth boss is also believed to have been interesting Burnley, Blackburn and Crystal Palace.

Ex-Wolves, Sunderland, Republic of Ireland and Millwall manager McCarthy, who is understood to have flown back to the UK from a spell away in Portugal earlier this week, has been the frontrunner to succeed Paul Jewell ever since reports of talks with the Blues first emerged on Friday. He remains odds-on at the few bookmakers not to have suspended betting on the market.

However, it is not yet a done deal with Clegg confirming that interviews with the shortlisted candidates are currently taking place. Town are hopeful of coming to a resolution before the weekend.

Photo: Action Images

bradforblues added 18:23 - Oct 30 Am I missing the point, why would holloway want to give up Blackpool for a team that's rock bottom ????
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Tractorcookie added 18:24 - Oct 30 Please let it be true!! I agree with the previous posts in that McCarthy would give some discipline and sort out the dressing room mess but I don't like his style of football. Holloway must have discipline as he has won promotion and nearly won it already BUT he plays a much more attractive style of football and one that is much more in line with that which Town used to play. "Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Holloway-land!! COYB!

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northernblues added 18:27 - Oct 30 i am still hoping for curbs and holland, curbs had teams playing nice football, unlike big mick, but i would take big mick or olly over some of the names being put about (megson etc)
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Dissboyitfc added 18:37 - Oct 30 Big_foot_blue.... just watched your youtube post... Bloody funny.... Given the choice between the two, its Holloway, for me... But i cant see anyway this will happen, its gonna be MM, still would be excellent at this moment in time, will be disappointed if its not either of these TBH....COYB
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Skippy93 added 18:37 - Oct 30 I would love nothing more than this to work as I think the bloke's a genius but I have that horrible nagging feeling that this could all go badly wrong...
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Edmunds5 added 18:42 - Oct 30 bradfordblues, I will reiterate what i posted the other day * Maybe Holloway thinks he has taken Blackpool as far as he could following promotion to te premier league, and then being beaten in the play off final last season, now lying in mid table *always had time for Ipswich and has talked highly of the club in the past * ME will possibly give Holloway a larger budget than Blackpool can and would trust Holloway to spend wisely because of previous successes such as Matt Phillips £350,000 and Tom Ince on a free. * Type of character who would relish this type of challenge, being put off will be defeatist and Holloway isnt that type of bloke. Managers want stablity, Blackburn may be 5th with a stronger squad but no one will trust the Venky's because of the promises broken to Steve Kean, saying how he will get Ronaldinho, beckham ect. This job fits Holloway perfectly in my opinion.

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jas0999 added 18:45 - Oct 30 Very interesting. Apparently many bookies have now closed the book on McCarthy, so that looks like a done deal - but in all honesty I would be delighted with both of these.
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warbeat78 added 18:46 - Oct 30 Hollaway 1st choice but mcarthy would be just as welcome total respect for both . Good man managers hard working with drive & foresight,and also good humour we could do with a bit of cheer!!! Laughter pulls people together. (Look on UTUBE holloway on rednapps manlove hilarious it's amust will put smile on your face
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bluberry added 18:52 - Oct 30 We dont need great football we need results so MMs the man we need
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SamWhiteUK added 19:14 - Oct 30 Would much rather this over McCarthy. COYB
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bluemikey100 added 19:23 - Oct 30 mccarthy interview he says mm stands for mick mccarthy not magic merlin lol i found on youtube
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warwickblue added 19:30 - Oct 30 Either manager? Great. Just a word of advice in week one: A) Sack every player in the squad B) Put a pile of blue shirts one side of a white line and the players on the other C) Invite those who want to cross the white line, to pick up a shirt and sign a weekly rolling contract D) Tell all the others to get into their big posh cars and F%@K %&F !!!!! - Guarantee Play-Offs by Christmas!

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TimmyH added 19:36 - Oct 30 Na thanks! Mc Mick or Curbs for me, I really can't see why he'd leave the Blackpool post for the present Ipswich one, we are a good season behind them at the moment, unless the money talks big time!
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lincolnshireblue added 19:38 - Oct 30 Holloway for me all the way. Whoever it is going to be I will support them all the way in their efforts to get us up the table to safety, but we need whoever it is in by tomorrow to get things moving.
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Talbs77 added 19:40 - Oct 30 I think judging by the the new article its a done deal with McCarthy.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:43 - Oct 30 Well Ian Hollaway would be my first choice, he is a motivational bloke, and has character, he says things as he sees it and as it is, i dont think players would mess with him .However Mick McCarthy is a good manager in his own way too, so would think we have done ok if we were to get him .I dont envy any manager taking the task on to be honest.This is worst situation for years .As much as we may blame PJ you have to ask why /how things were allowed to get to be this bad without ME and Clegg taking action earlier.Many of the supporters have been predicting this mess ,why didnt they[ME & Clegg] see it coming .?We will soon have a new manager,but the remedy needs to start from above that .COYB

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Warkys_Tash added 20:19 - Oct 30 Bring on Ollie the Wurzle, love that guy! Charismatic, passionate, knowledgeable, proven track record. Would be my preferred choice over big Mick, but I would support either as I believe both could shake it up. However, I believe Ollie's brand of football is more attractive.
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bobble added 20:55 - Oct 30 put $50 on us to go up this year .........
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tractoreddie51 added 23:27 - Oct 30 whats to stop clegg going to william hill and placing a bet on george burley, good odds, lol
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beerhelps added 23:33 - Oct 30 Gas Heads are my second team (...family thing!), so Ollie has been on radar since his playing days. I always loved the way he put his family first when choosing clubs, loved the passion he showed for Rovers as manager, loved the way he has stayed true to himself when he was a Premier manager......Please Ollie, (and Marcus) make my season!
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debenturedave added 00:06 - Oct 31 Ollie is the type of manager we need at Ipswich and we need him tomorrow please Marcus .
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:57 - Oct 31 Sorry Ollie, seems like we are not going to get you ! still thats saved you from another fine mess .
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Southamptonblue added 10:47 - Oct 31 I'd prefer Holloway to McCarthy.
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wrighty_blue97 added 13:23 - Oct 31 It's win, win and win, mccarthy/holloway good motivators and are capable of sorting this mess out, redknapp would be respected by the players and so they would perform, to be honest holloway/mccarthy as manager and harry as director of football to advise evans sounds great to me, make this happen town, COYB!
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runaround added 16:52 - Oct 31 Either Ollie or Mick would fit the bill for me!
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