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McCarthy: Relationship With Fans Will Come into Thoughts on Future
Tuesday, 20th Feb 2018 15:41

Town boss Mick McCarthy admits that the ongoing rift between him and supporters will come into his thoughts when he decides on his future in the summer. The 59-year-old’s Blues contract is up at the end of the season and he recently revealed he had begun discussions with owner Marcus Evans - who has an option to keep him at Portman Road for two further years - regarding what might happen at the end of the campaign.

Yesterday, McCarthy issued an apology for swearing as he celebrated Town’s goal at Norwich but denied he was directing his comment at the travelling Blues’ support in response to earlier derogatory chanting, as had been widely interpreted at the time.

“Yes, I guess so,” he said when asked whether the schism would come into his thinking. “But I’ve not given that too much thought, I have to be honest, since [Sunday]. I always say I’d like to win tomorrow and then my relationship is a lot better, it always is.”

A shame that the rift has developed? “I prefer it when they’re supporting the team and if it’s me being here that is affecting that, that really is sad.

“But, I’m here for the next 14 games at least, and I’m at pains to say at least, and I’m going to try and do as well as I can.”

McCarthy says despite the weekend furore, he has no problem staying focused: “Oh yes, absolutely. I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve had ups and downs throughout my career and, yes, I do manage to focus on it. All I am is focused on the Cardiff game.”

Regarding the apology, he said: “Listen, people saw me swearing on television. It was at nobody but I was pumped up for that game, really pumped up.

“I said when I was sat here last week how much it meant to the fans and that I was quite aware of it. I was desperate for a win, sadly I didn’t get it.”


Was he concerned when he saw how it had been interpreted? “Not really, people can interpret it however they want. But listen, I’ve jumped up and done that before, so it was a really good moment, I thought we were going to win the game.”

Does he believe he’s entitled to celebrate a goal in any way he likes? “Well, maybe not when people are watching it with the bad language that I used. But when I jumped up I’m not thinking I’ve got the cameras on me because I’m not that bothered, to be quite honest.

“But I think it’s a shame actually that you [the media] are running the story and carrying on with it, to be honest. It’s just prolonging it. It’s such a shame that we should stop talking about it, I guess.”

And if he’s getting stick from fans, isn’t he entitled to hit back in kind? “I wasn’t giving them stick back. You’re misinterpreting it. I was pumped up and I said here, I was desperate to win.

“Pumped up and delighted we’d scored, thought we were going to win. And that’s the end of it. You’ve seen the website and you’ve seen what I’ve said, so as far as I’m concerned it’s finished with.”

Does he believe it’s possible for a club to be successful over a longer period if there is such a rift between its manager and its fans? “Let’s hope so. I keep saying, I’ll just keep doing my job. I’ve got Cardiff to play tomorrow night.

“I’ve had a great relationship with the fans actually, for the most part. And I think if we win tomorrow night we’ll get cheered off as we normally do.”

Can it have an impact on the players during a game? “You’d have to ask them. I don’t think so actually. I think the atmosphere does and I’ve said in the past that I think that fans come along and cheer the team because that’s what they are, they’re fans, and they come and support us.

“And that’s what they do generally and if we’ve won we get well supported, if we’ve lost, like any other club, like any other team, you get the bird when you’re going off.”

Asked again about how his relationship with fans might affect his decision in the summer, he added: “I’m concentrating on tomorrow. Effectively, the only way I can [improve] it is by winning games and playing well.

“We played well on Sunday and we should have won that game in the end. You can argue that Bart made two good saves. I think their keeper made some good saves, I thought we played well and were the better team in the first half.

“We had to withstand a bit of pressure from a very good Norwich side, but in the end we scored and with 30 seconds to go we should have won the game. I’m hoping that we can replicate the performance but win the game instead.”

McCarthy refused to blame ill fortune or referee David Coote for his side not being able to hold on for the remaining seconds.

“It’s not bad luck and it’s not the referee,” he said. “It’s not him adding five minutes on. I don’t think the physio was on in the second half, forgive me if I’m wrong.

“There’s six substitutions, apparently that’s three minutes, there was a goal scored, that’s 30 seconds, I believe. Even if it’s a minute I still don’t know where five came from.

“But that’s the most comfortable we’ve ever been with five minutes being put up, they never looked like scoring and it’s our own stupidity that cost us.

“We’d pretty much done it. We should have run the ball in the corner and wedged it up against the corner flag and kicked it out for a throw-in and don’t let them out and then game would have been finished. But we didn’t and it’s cost us.”

“We were excellent. I thought the lads were great. If there’s ever a perfect game plan which had gone to plan and was kiboshed by some naivety at the end of the game that was it, and that’s all it was. And, of course, had we won it would have been a completely different story.”

He says no blame was apportioned in the dressing room after the match: “Not at all. I don’t go around doing that, that’s for Monday morning to have a discussion with them.

“I’ve said to them today we should have learnt, we did it against Sheffield Wednesday, we continued going forward, trying to score another goal and it’s just bonkers. As far as I’m aware, and I’ve been in the game a long time, 1-0 wins it.”

He admitted the home side’s celebrations at the final whistle irked him: “It stuck in my craw, I’ve not beaten them. When we scored I thought we’d do it. But we didn’t, so it still does. I might have to come back and do it again.”


Photo: TWTD



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Westy added 15:45 - Feb 20
There is only a rift with some of the fans !
11

TractorCam added 15:45 - Feb 20
Still love how Mick owns the club. His decision, if I was the owner and the manager is talking about a rift with supporters, then to me it's clear what needs to be done to you know, keep your 'customers' satisfied?
12

itsonlyme added 15:46 - Feb 20
I cannot believe that a decision has not been made! For the sake of season tickets a statement of intent must be made asap. If ME is supposed to be a business man, then seeing your average gate dip from well over 20000 to around 14000 now does not say much for his business acumen!
MM must go for the sake of everyone!
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TractorCam added 15:47 - Feb 20
Then again following from my comment, Mick is only part of the problem, Evans is the big problem
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toxtethblue added 15:47 - Feb 20
Being the stubborn dino he is that means he'll stay given the chance...
2

blue75 added 15:51 - Feb 20
Has he not learned it's not just about winning games if that were the case he'd have already had his new contract signed. Also his up yours gesture and verbal insult was directed at the town fans I really wish he'd admit that the camera doesn't lie.
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yungblue added 15:54 - Feb 20
I've never booed the players I must say. The philosophy implemented from Mick is not and never will be attractive and subsequently reflects will the players unfortunately looking like they can do no more than miss place a 5 yard pass because that is not what is asked of them. But under another manager (Warburton) there is a lot of technically gifted players in the town team: Webster, Huws, Celina, McGoldrick, Nydam, Downes, Bishop, Dozzell, Waghorn..... who I believe would thrive unde a different manager.

Regarding MM, can't see him being asked to stay on. Gates would drop to around 10,000.
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BlueHarwich added 15:58 - Feb 20
I will always support my team! That will go to the grave with me. I just don't support you and never will again. Your arrogance is beyond belief and lets cut the Bu**Shi* that pathetic reaction on Sunday was aimed at us. I personally couldn't care less what you did as it just confirms to me that I will 100% not renewing my season ticket until you leave my club! All Sunday is doing is covering up what a prehistoric way of football you envisage and teach!
21

oioihardy added 15:59 - Feb 20
Personally. I think if mick had a different owner to work with I reckon we could of been in the prem right now.
It's just a shame that his good work has now been damaged by the massive rift with the fans. It's too far for him to come back and win most fans over now. I believe the only way forward is a new manager. But I don't know how well we would do. As we'd still have Evans owning the club. I believe it will just be a horrible circle till Evans disappears from this club
5

runningout added 16:01 - Feb 20
wonder who would be decent replacement.. I'd risk Francesco Guidolin
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bluejacko added 16:04 - Feb 20
His contract is up but HE is the one who will decide what he does! You really can't make it up S/T's down 15% last year what on Earth do they think will happen this year if he stays? RIP ITFC!!
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FinidiCentenary added 16:09 - Feb 20
'I might have to come back and do it again'

Wow. Just wow.
6

SouperJim added 16:09 - Feb 20
Mick you're a liar and you're not convincing anyone but the most gullible. Also it's not the press continuing with the story, a lot of Town fans are understandably fuming that far from actually wanting to the bury the hatchet, you appear to be unable to help yourself but continue to stoke the flames. E.g. "I might have to come back and do it again.”.

Time to go. You've done a very respectable job with limited funds, but also have an ego the size of a planet and your style of football offers very little entertainment. We're bored of mediocrity and we're thoroughly bored of your arrogance.
18

tomitfc added 16:10 - Feb 20
It makes me sick how he is deciding whether or not he stays..

No other club in the country is run like this!!
25

rugbytomc added 16:10 - Feb 20
He is a stubborn Yorkshireman and I believe he can't change. 14 games left - imagine if the only comment he made towards supporters for all 14 games was to thank them for their support - then add glad we could reward them for any wins and sorry we let them down for any defeats or especially for poor away performances. Then we could just let the football do the talking (and that's another discussion to have entirely!)
0

trncbluearmy added 16:12 - Feb 20
Just go
13

Taricco_Fan added 16:20 - Feb 20
I'm not sure how many other football managers call the shots with their employer. Sounds to me like McCarthy is welcome stay as long as he likes.
7

Gcon added 16:22 - Feb 20
Don't listen to them, Mick. They know nothing.
-23

poldark added 16:27 - Feb 20
Sign up Mighty Muck and see season tickets drop to unprecedented low and keep all you loyal Mighty Muck fans happy
17

carsey added 16:30 - Feb 20
I keep saying if he was as good as he thinks he is one of the top Championship clubs or relegation threatened Premier League clubs would have come calling with an offer too good to refuse but they haven't because he isn't.
He is out of touch tactically and does nothing to keep the fans on side by continually bad mouthing them.
20

BaddowBlue1 added 16:30 - Feb 20
First of all we must be grateful for Mick keeping us in this division and not getting relegated when we looked doomed a few seasons ago. He got us into the Play Offs but has not been supported by Evans as much as either he or us would like. The quality of football is more a reflection of the lack of investment by Evans, and Mick trying to do his best with what he has available, remember we are missing key midfielders out for the season or most of the season. Sometimes the team set up is wrong but Burley and Robson also made these mistakes. We have some good youngsters coming through and I believe Mick is trying to buy us time to be a success with a mix of bigger signings and home grown talent. My main complaint of recent games it for players to want to wear and fight for the Town not just turn in a poor performance and collect a sizable pay packet at the end of the day. For the first time in a many a derby game we saw players put their bodies on the line for the cause.
I do wonder if Royle (who did a wonderful job producing good attacking football with virtually nothing following the clubs administration) would have spent the money made available to Magilton, Jewell and Keane more wisely. Joe also had the crowd on his back as Bent and Kuqi left with inadequate replacements being brought in and finally resigned.
Bottom line is Evans needs to back Mick in the transfer market or let him go with a view to pick up an up and coming manager. A note of caution here as we must also remember that before Mick we struggled to get players in due to our country location or had to pay over inflated wages/prices.
-7

BlueBlood90 added 16:33 - Feb 20
Mick talks as if it's his choice whether he stays or goes. Surely it's Marcus Evans who decides whether he stays, not him. Why it's even being mentioned that he could stay is beyond a joke. He should've gone after the Lincoln game last season and we never got rid. He's seen his contract out and now it should be time to move on and go get someone in that the whole fan base can get behind and start a new chapter. If we give him another two years then I really fear how toxic this could get.
10

geminimustang added 16:34 - Feb 20
tomitfc added 16:10 - Feb 20
It makes me sick how he is deciding whether or not he stays..
No other club in the country is run like this!!

Except Arsenal! They're not with their Manager too!!
2

peteswindon added 16:34 - Feb 20
Great news please stay Mick. its is mainly supporters who need to tune into reality FM that want MM to go. He is an experienced manager working miracles on a shoestring BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR OR DIVISION ONE HERE WE COME.

What is needed is investment not a new manager.
-14

midastouch added 16:41 - Feb 20
Mick will bring the attendances down to under 10k if he stays, playing to a half empty stadium is bad enough but playing to a 2/3 empty stadium is even worse, he'll turn us into Coventry if he doesn't sling his hook soon! Although to be fair to Coventry at least they know how to win a Cup game, unlike Mick. I'll never step foot into Portman Road as long as Mick is in charge as his style bores me to hell. Watching one of his teams isn't even worth the petrol or parking costs, let alone the entrance fee on top! I don't even bother to watch our highlights on TV any longer as you know there won't be any!
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