Town boss Mick McCarthy says he must being doing something right if he’s being linked with jobs elsewhere, with Championship strugglers Fulham reportedly keen to poach him in the summer.

“I’ve got a two-year contract here,” McCarthy said when quizzed on the reports. “Somebody told me about that the other day. There’s nothing I can do about it.

“If somebody mentions my name it means I’m doing a good job elsewhere - great if someone thinks that.”

McCarthy, 56, signed the new deal running until June 2017 last summer having taken over at Town in November 2012.

Fulham are currently 20th in the Championship, nine points off the relegation zone, and have had a poor season following their relegation from the Premier League last May, despite the significant advantage of parachute payments.

Current manager Kit Symons took over, initially as a caretaker-boss, following the departure of Felix Magath in September, agreeing a deal until the summer of 2016.

McCarthy says he’s happy with Town: “Absolutely, but if Manchester United come and ask me to go up there I’ll be going. That is the case in point.

“But Man United won’t be asking me and I won’t be going up there and I did sign that contract and I’m happy with it, I’m delighted to be here. And I cannot do anything about what people write.

“But do you know what? I’m kind of glad my name does get a mention because I see some of the names which get a mention for jobs and I think ‘How the flipping hell is that happening?’ when I’ve been doing it for 23 years and I’ve got as good a record in the Championship, probably better, than anybody else who is doing it. But I can’t do anything about that, I’m happy here.”

The former Ireland, Sunderland, Wolves and Millwall boss recalls being overlooked in favour of younger, less experienced but perhaps more fashionable managers along with Hull City boss Steve Bruce prior to his appointment at Town.

“Remember me and Brucey were out of work and we were both having a little bleat about it? Maybe we’re seen as the old school. But kind of works, doesn’t it? And I don’t know how many new ideas there are, to be honest with you. I want to get promoted with us, that’s what I want to do. That’s my bag.”

Photo: Action Images

flashblue added 06:23 - Apr 11 I, for one, think we could use a freshen up. Mick's been good, but let's be honest, he won't get us up. There's more exciting managers out there.
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Rentaghost added 06:46 - Apr 11 Interesting one this. Mick McCarthy is a very loyal guy with the club. If he has half an eye on a team on his doorstep and one last challenge could be tempting for him. This summer is probably going to be the busiest in years in terms of players in and out.
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Umros added 07:16 - Apr 11 Loyalty will only go so far, be it Man United or Fulham offering a million pound pay rise, end of.
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itfcjoe added 07:21 - Apr 11 Does a very good job of talking about everything else apart from if he's interested in Fulham job
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NicRams added 07:34 - Apr 11 The great managers leave Fulham, they don't join them #sirbob
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jas0999 added 07:37 - Apr 11 Interesting. Mick doesn't exactly say he hasn't been approached does he? I still think Mick has done a good job and as good as could be expected with the limited funds available. However, he like most fans on here will know that freebies will get you so far. There are decent players on frees. But to get that extra bit of quality in on a permanent deal, it will cost money and ME seems reluctant to pay the fees required. A good pacey winger and an attack minded goal scoring midfielder may cost a million combined. Trouble is, he won't get that backing here. He will at Fulham. I'm talking a million quid for fees here BTW, not tens of millions. It's disappointing that Evans didn't offer that backing in January. It may prove very costly. A million pound investment for a ninety million pound reward. Shame.

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essextractorboy93 added 07:49 - Apr 11 I don't understand why one or two fans have said they wouldn't mind if Mick was replaced. If he hadnt come in when he did we would be in league 1 right now. I know it has spent 110k on transfer fees and got us on the verge of the playoffs. It's amazing how after beating Watford everyone thought we can get promoted and then a couple of weeks later after a defeat at Huddersfield it's all doom and gloom. If we don't go up this season then next year we will have another go, normally in this league there are two types of teams to get promoted: teams with money from the premier league and teams with momentum from league 1 (Southampton, Norwich). Playoffs or not this season, it would be a ridiculous decision to say we wouldn't mind if Mick left. We are a good Championship side who might get into the playoffs spending almost no money.

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howdonblue added 08:10 - Apr 11 Whatever happens thank you mick for rescuing Ipswich town from division 1. In mick I trust
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el_nino added 08:20 - Apr 11 A lot of people won't realise how great Mick has been for us until he's gone.
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Jimmy86 added 08:28 - Apr 11 Mick has done a fantastic job with what he's had at his disposal, that's not in question. He has also been let down by Evans, with regards to backing, more so in January when we were in 2nd, but Mick was also reluctant to bring in new faces at risk of damaging the great team spirit in the squad. Fair enough on the most part. Getting the right sort of character in seems to be 1 of Mick's priorities, which is fair enough too. 1 thing I did think the other day though, is that no amount of backing from Evans will ever change Mick's philosophies. He is a defensive minded, stubborn manager, who values grafters over slightly more technically gifted players, hence why our midfield is as poor as it is. Yes it's great if players work hard and put a shift in, but as has been said so many times, hard work will only ever get you so far. The football isn't great and there are times where we literally can't string 3 passes together before a hopeful punt up field looking for a knock down from a 50/50 aerial challenge and then pick up the 2nd ball. If like Bournemouth were on good Friday, we find ourselves 1 nil down, Mick wouldn't do what Howe did and put on 3 attacking players and change system, really go for it. Mick is always focused on us not conceding more, but trying to gain a point, whether that be home or away. So in summary Mick has done a fantastic job, with what he's had. If he was to be given funds, it wouldn't change him or his defensive minded, sometimes negative approach

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Cakeman added 09:15 - Apr 11 Jimmy86, excellent post and very balanced constructive comments.
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DurhamTownFan added 09:16 - Apr 11 Anyone think mick might have been made aware of the recent criticisms on our post-Christmas form? Sounds like a gentle reminder to everyone about his past record! Trouble is, football is in the present. Keep winning and nobody will criticise!
1

bobbyramsey added 09:28 - Apr 11 I wonder if MM could use this as a 'lever' to get ME to loosen the purse strings a little?
1

brittaniaman added 09:42 - Apr 11 I see Howe is now 4pts. clear at the top !! his attack system has really worked for him, now 12pts ahead of us But we do not want to talk about him do we ???? there are more important things like Blackpool this afternoon when a point will just not do today MM. so get in to an attack minded Mode, because the pressure will be on us.. Hope you will be able to enjoy your drink with Lee Clark afterwards

1

algarvefan added 09:43 - Apr 11 So some of you think we could do with a 'freshen up' do you? Is it about 10 grand Mick has spent on players? We're still in with a shout of the play offs with a few games to go and some of you want Mick replaced!! He has done an amazing job for us, OK it ain't been pretty sometimes, but amazing is what it's been. Well I for one Mick am behind you and TC and think we can still make the play offs and 'hands up' if you'd have taken that at the start of the season!!!!

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Dolly2.0 added 09:52 - Apr 11 We really do have some d!ckheads as supporters and I so hope Mick or any of the staff don't read these pages. Some of you must have the memories of goldfishes. Mick is probably the best manager we could get right now. Why some of you would even question what he's done is beyond me.
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Jimmy86 added 10:08 - Apr 11 Dolly, in my post, at any point did I say Mick was a poor manager, or that we would be better off without him, I said that no amount of backing would change his philosophy as a manager, coz it wouldn't. He is defensively minded, which is no suprise, because he was a defender in his playing days. Don't know what you didn't agree with in my post
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paulthebluealien added 10:43 - Apr 11 Team beats Watford away - Town 6th and we're making the playoffs, great tactical display from McCarthy. Team loses and drops to 8th after the Huddersfield game. We're not making the playoffs and McCarthy is a stubborn old manager who clearly knows absolutely nothing. We wonder why I brand some fans fickle. Idiots. We're 3 points off the playoffs with two home games today and Tuesday that are both winnable. We'd be plying our trade in league 1 if it wasn't for Mick. Get real.

0

Lord_Mac added 10:57 - Apr 11 Before MM/TC we had three disastrous managers. They spent money and couldn't get those players to perform. Now, as a result we don't have any money but we have a management team that's good enough to get so much out of free transfers and kids that we have been on the verge of playoffs for two years running. Had this not been so, we'd be in league one and I very much doubt we'd be one of those sides who would bounce straight back. We are actually reasonably stable at the moment and a change would put that at risk. And for Thor who think that Evans should spend, spend, spend - he can't, even if he wanted to, as it would immediately lead to a transfer embargo. And where would we be then? What is your Plan B? And yes, I do wish he'd been a bit more adventurous in certain games because that has cost us. I hope there's a review of that and it doesn't happen in future.

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Lord_Mac added 10:58 - Apr 11 Thor??? those....
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warktheline added 11:04 - Apr 11 Great to have debates and differences in opinion, but calling people d...heads and idiots is wrong. Balanced constructive arguments please.
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SouperJim added 11:06 - Apr 11 Mick is a fairly divisive manager, he's done very well for us but fans always want more. I think all of us would be much happier if we were top of the league and playing the kind of football Bournemouth do, as there is no doubt about it, we are at times pretty dull to watch. On the other hand perspective is very important and we are light years ahead of the play-when-you-feel-like-it band of mercenaries we had under Jewell. The other thing to consider is that Mick is a very likeable guy, he tells as much truth as a football manager can and is very canny, by and large, with both the media and the fans. The TC factor also cannot be dismissed, as we have got so much out of strike force thanks to his coaching. 13 years or so of mediocrity (at best) have probably made me cautious than I was before when discussing a change of manager. For now I am firmly in the "better the devil you know" camp, as I feel we can expect to at least be challenging for the top 6 while Mick is in charge and a season in the Premier League would put us in a much stronger position moving forward. Please can we drop the myth that Mick has had no money to spend though. I believe we have the 6th highest wage bill in the division, or so it has been said of late. Yes we've spent very little on fees, but Mick has spent a reasonable chunk of money and he's spent it in the way he has chosen. All his "I've spent no money" talk is just spin.

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Razor added 11:08 - Apr 11 Dolly----just because you dont agree with a post that does not make them a dickhead. Personally I think Mick did a great job and got well paid for it, but in football you have got to recognise when change is needed to go the extra mile and brave decisions have to be taken--look at West Brom and Palace.
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clint_eastwood added 11:51 - Apr 11 Mick's alright. I want him to stay for many years. His tactical ability needs to improve. Perhaps recruiting a couple of new backroom staff would probably help him with some new tactical ideas and how to approach the modern game.
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TimmyH added 12:02 - Apr 11 Look we knew what we were getting when Mick was appointed and that was a manager whose organisational skills and getting the most out of what he's got was his chief points on his CV. Was he the correct manager when we were struggling to stave off relegation? absolutely...and just how quickly we started getting results and keeping clean sheets proved that point. 2 years further down the line and we have moved in the right direction but aided by a skinflint owner now hiding behind the FFP rules is making Mick's job even harder to get us where we won't to be and that's at least to the play-off's. Problem is at times as mentioned Mick can be a bit one directional/stubborn with undoubtedly a dull style of football based on effort over flair which undoubtedly rubs a percentage of the supporters up the wrong way particularly when your paying in general over £20 a match. It wouldn't be a disaster for the club if Mick left but the biggest problem we have is coming from the owner but it can be done on minimal big transfer activity and an ambitious manager - just look at the likes of transformation of Brentford this season and Burnley (last season) and other 'smaller' clubs of recent years making it to the Premiership - Blackpool, Palace etc.

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