Town MD Ian Milne has urged fans to “stay with” manager Mick McCarthy and his team, despite last night’s humiliating FA Cup exit at Lincoln City.

Supporters have reacted angrily to the 1-0 defeat at Sincil Bank, only the Blues' second FA Cup defeat to non-league opposition since they joined the Football League, Peterborough United having won 3-2 in the third round at Portman Road in 1960.

In a statement to BBC Suffolk, Milne said: "Over the two matches Lincoln City were clearly the better organised team. That resulted in them deserving to win and we should, and have, congratulated them.

"We clearly did not perform to the standard we can do and an example of that is the good win we got against Blackburn last Saturday.

"However, nobody in the squad takes any pleasure in producing that type of football in front of our great away fans or indeed to the wider television audience.

"As usual Mick had been honest in his after-match comments and I have nothing to add to that regarding the game.

"I would add that over the last few days we have added players to the squad and we have bids in for others.

"So in these difficult times we would ask our fans to stay with Mick and the boys as we make improvements to the squad and get our injured players match fit, as our aim is to return to winning, entertaining football as we started to do against Blackburn."

Photo: ITFC

cornishnick added 11:08 - Jan 18 "I would add that over the last few days we have added players to the squad..." 1 player released by Milton Keynes, and another who couldn't get in the Forest Green team.
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midastouch added 11:11 - Jan 18 One word for you Milne: DELUDED!
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arablue added 11:11 - Jan 18 ME, thru his proxy, had just told us MM is staying...sad sad day for the club..
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LimitlessBlue added 11:13 - Jan 18 up yours you tw@t xxxxxx
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Coldwarkid added 11:14 - Jan 18 Absolutely NOT...! The highly paid players on the pitch last night couldn't even string a pass together. Not one of them even looked for a team mate they just panicked and got rid of the ball generally into touch or to the NON LEAGUE opposition. We were pathetic. I've seen better passing at a primary school match.
31

Stato added 11:15 - Jan 18 Let the battle between the fans and the owner commence. He will lose
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Stato added 11:15 - Jan 18 Let the battle between the fans and the owner commence. He will lose
8

Stato added 11:15 - Jan 18 Let the battle between the fans and the owner commence. He will lose
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midastouch added 11:15 - Jan 18 Milne is fast becoming like a poor man's Clegg. Does he know anything about football? I wonder if he even knows what offside is! Mr Milnedew the teams needs more balance, not more balance sheets!
12

trncbluearmy added 11:16 - Jan 18 No thank you and you can go to
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grubbyoik added 11:16 - Jan 18 Last night was not a one off.. The only reason you come out and say anything to the press is that the whole country.. no .. the whole world.. watched that. Weve been watching football like that on and off for the past 9 years you ignorant pig.
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pippaine1 added 11:16 - Jan 18 I AM A SMALL SHAREHOLDER AT TOWN VERY EMBARRASSED AT THE RESULT, SOMETIMES CHANGE HAS TO BE MADE, NOW IS THAT TIME, LOOK NO FURTHER THAN LINCOLNS MANAGER HE IS WHAT IT ALL ABOUT TODAY HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS NEW IDEAS, FRESH METHODS, AND GOING PLACES
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Townie29 added 11:17 - Jan 18 Alan Pardew? Ryan Giggs?
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BlueTide66 added 11:17 - Jan 18 Just how bad does it have to get before the axe falls?? League One? 10,000 spectators at a home game?? I'm all for giving a manager time, and we have, but this is now verging on the ridiculous....it's not working and hasn't for sometime now. The owner needs to accept its time for change before it's too late (if it isn't already)
29

50yearsablue added 11:18 - Jan 18 Oh dear Mr Milne. I have given 60 years of my life (moniker is out of date) to the club and almost feel indifference to it now it is being destroyed by an owner and MD who know nothing about football and how a club should be run. If they did, they would know that Mick McCarthy has passed his sell by date. Yes, he saved us from the aftermath of Keane and Jewell but you cannot survive on that mini-achievement. Yes, we did well to reach the play offs but that was due to a superlative season by Murphy and the sum being greater than the parts. Since then we have gone into decline and, trust me, we are playing the most boring football in all of those 60 years but we don't have the worst players. I know I have not been involved in professional football but I have learnt enough to know that McCarthy is currently destroying the careers of Sears, Chambers, Ward, Bishop etc. and failing consistently to get a decent squad of players to perform and entertain. Selections are baffling and to play Digby, Best and Douglas is an insult to us. Well, hood on you in giving the vote of confidence. Just don't expect even stalwarts like me to renew next season as, frankly, I cannot bear to see my side destroyed this way

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britbiker added 11:19 - Jan 18 I disagree boss an. Me will not lose in a battle with fans. Both Me and us fans will sadly both lose.
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OsborneOneNil added 11:20 - Jan 18 It's like a bad dream.
7

ericgatesrules added 11:20 - Jan 18 Sorry Mr Milne but as much as I want to wholeheartedly support the team I have followed for 38 years last night was the last straw. We were embarrassingly useless and Mick has to take what's coming to him including his P45. Sorry Mr Milne. MM out asap.
26

midastouch added 11:20 - Jan 18 My first IMPression of this man is he hasn't got a scooby doo! It's scary we've got somebody like this at the top that fails to recognise the man steering the ship has lost control! It his responsibility to save us from hitting the iceberg, well last night you could argue we smashed into the iceberg, but with this fella up top I'm worried we might not even get life jackets. It's not sink or swim with these clowns running the club, it's sink and sink!

12

rubbleblue added 11:20 - Jan 18 Mr Milne. I was one of those unfortunate enough to be there last night,as I was for the home tie. IMO last night was 100% improvement on the portman road game, and we were still awful. I also live in Lincoln and watch them as my boys are fans and they truly deserve the credit they are getting. This club is a laughing stock run by an owner who regrets buying it with a management team who have totally destroyed the ethos of pass and move football we the faithful are craving for. I stood and applauded a team who played with the same passion our Sir Bobby would have been proud of it's a shame it was Lincoln. How are we supposed to get the next generation of fans to stick by a team devoid of true leadership on and off the pitch. My own boys being two that I will not be putting through the torment of watching this club go down and out of the league's. Which I fear will only be a matter of time. The likes of our past leaders will be turning in their graves at this and the buck stops at yours Marcus and Mick's door. A Lincoln fan said he hadn't seen a team play as badly all season and that sums it up. RIP ITFC.

22

toxtethblue added 11:22 - Jan 18 F uc k you
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beornioblue added 11:22 - Jan 18 Joke owner, Joke manager and fast becoming a Joke team .... how can there not be change ???
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brittaniaman added 11:23 - Jan 18 YOU MUST BE HAVING A LAUGH MILNE !!!! he will not resign and Evans will not sack him ???? Unfortunately if we lose at Huddersfield and then Preston McCarthy will still be here for Derby at home ??? How many Fans will turn up is anybody guess !!! Last two seasons we had a group of Ten, it has now diminished to just me now !!! so look how much money the club has lost just from our group in a short time.

13

Bluejake added 11:24 - Jan 18 No.
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toxtethblue added 11:24 - Jan 18 Ericgaterules - what are apologising for?! Grow some balls
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