Town skipper Luke Chambers has gone public for the first time to admit that he and his team-mates all want boss Mick McCarthy to stay in charge when his contract expires at the end of the current campaign.

Regardless of whether or not it is a minority, as McCarthy has suggested in recent weeks, there are a number of supporters who are advocating change, some to the extent that they have vowed never to return to Portman Road until a new man is at the helm.

McCarthy, who was appointed November 2012 and has won 104 of his 273 games in charge, is refusing to discuss what is likely to happen when his current deal expires in the summer, while owner and chairman Marcus Evans has yet to announce whether he intends triggering the two-year option the club has on the manager’s services.

But Chambers laid his cards on the table today to announce: “We want the manager here next season, simple as that. That’s from a players’ point of view.

“Obviously, I feel he’s done a good job here on the budget we’ve got, which is probably one of the bottom four or five in the league.

“Last season wasn’t great and we hear a lot about the football that’s being played not being great.

“But at the end of the day football is a results business and I feel he has given consistent performances and results.

“Everyone wants their teams to play like Barcelona and get promoted but sometimes that’s a little bit unrealistic.”

The uncertainty over McCarthy’s future mirrors the situation last year when Chambers, who was almost transferred to previous club Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window, had to wait before being offered a new two-year deal that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2019.

It was the same this year as vice-captain Cole Skuse was approaching the end of his deal when he signed a fresh two-year contract due to expire in 2020.

Chambers insists he remains in the dark about McCarthy’s future but added: “We’ve had chats about the whole situation. We spoke about my own situation last year and Cole Skuse was in a similar position this year, plus Bart as well. But that’s football and that’s the way the chairman wants to run the football club.

“It’s obviously not ideal for everyone. If you’re identifying players for next season it can’t help not knowing whether the manager’s going to be here or not.

“But it’s out of our hands and all we can do is continue what we have been doing — giving everything for the cause and the manager. That’s what we will continue to do until the end of the season.”

Asked if the ‘will he stay or will he go?’ state of affairs is hindering the club’s on-the-field activities, Chambers responded: “The manager’s situation is not what is going through the boys’ minds. We’ve always looking to perform for the manager and I feel we have done over the last few weeks.

“We’ve won two of our last three and drawn the other one, and performances have been encouraging. We should have beaten Norwich — that’s a disappointment that will live with me forever — but I feel the last few weeks have been a lot more positive.

“Yes, the football wasn’t great [against Sheffield United] on Saturday but away from home at Sheffield Wednesday we did well, especially in the first half, and it was similar at Preston.

“So we’ve beaten these two away and we’ve just got to build on what we’ve created over the last few weeks.”

It was pointed out to Chambers that many fans are frustrated, some are downright bored by what they perceive to be a lack of entertainment at Portman Road and a significant number would prefer to see a change of manager before next season.

He said: “That’s football, isn’t it? People do get bored and there are lots of changes throughout the leagues all the time. Managerial changes happen and the turnover in players is massive. But people want change in every walk of life, be it in football or whatever, so that’s the way it is.

“As players we don’t want that to happen. I wouldn’t say we are comfortable — we want to see players coming in like the club brought in last summer.

“We’ve missed half of them through injury. We’re building something where we can challenge, even if we should be nowhere near it on our budget.”

Photo: TWTD

brittaniaman added 19:31 - Mar 12 The lowest gate of 13000 for say 20yrs was the Cardiff game, Well if Dino stays it will probably drop to around 10000 to 11000 next season, not very good playing in a stadium only a third full ?? Trust Stewart White on Look East tonight, after a discussion on ITFC. problems came out with the same old Cliche, of Be careful what you wish for.
5

Seasider added 19:37 - Mar 12 As you say Chambo you are comfortable,just like your team mates Skusey and Knudsen;because you are on good money,and know that while McCarthy is here you will all play every game you are able to. You would hardly say anything else in your position;but you are an employee of the Club,and we the supporters HAVE TO PAY not receive as you do.Dont you think we matter either,just like your boss doesn't.

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Reecex28 added 19:42 - Mar 12 Try a 240 mile round trip for a home game to find no atmosphere and huff and puff football. Time for MM to move on and fresh life to be injected into both players and supporters. My fear is ME realises something has to change but it won't be MM. It will be a slight loosening of the purse strings with the line ‘now lets see what MM can do'
8

Plums added 19:42 - Mar 12 If that first half at Wednesday was a good performance, the noise from the bottom of the barrel is deafening.
8

Felstow1978 added 19:51 - Mar 12 Sorry Blueboy. Meant to up vote you, curse of the chubby fingers I'm afraid
0

Sixto6 added 20:09 - Mar 12 Of course you want him to stay! Without that stubborn old dinosaur picking the team most the Top blokes would be playing in league one ! - different class he is !
6

grumpyoldman added 20:43 - Mar 12 Some say most people agree with Chambers and want MM to stay, if this is the case how do they explain the massive drop in attendances? Or are only the proper blokes now turning up to watch the proper blokes doing what proper blokes do when they play for a proper bloke.
6

warktheline added 20:54 - Mar 12 Chambers you'd be the first player shipped out of Portman Rd with McCarthy if I had my way! Mr Comfortable and Mr Arrogant bye bye!
1

prebbs007 added 22:15 - Mar 12 Of course you do donkey. Same with all the “proper blokes” it's the only way you'll get a game !!!
1

bluearmy84 added 22:54 - Mar 12 wark the line. youd ship out your captain??? and replace him with who and with what money?? chambers holds the squad together this season hes played well on and off the field
-1

Gcon added 22:56 - Mar 12 oh Yes, lets berate the captain too. You 'Fans' make me cringe with shame. There are other clubs you can support, you know? Some old sh!te from the same old few....
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44_not_out added 23:20 - Mar 12 Chambers is a decent bloke and a good player. Most championship teams would snap him up. The uneducated who constantly moan, just stay away. They are clueless about football and are reliant on watching sky sports, thinking every team should be Barcelona or Man City. I've seen comments on here suggesting Mark Warburton. Decent guy and likes his team to play out from the back. Nothing wrong with that. However, you need the players to do it. Nottingham Forest were shocking down here earlier in the season, simply because most players in the Championship can't play like that. I think the expression goes, you can't polish a turd. That might seem harsh, but it's the reality. MM you're doing a good job, but the moaners can't see it!

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barrystedmunds added 00:38 - Mar 13 Well judging by the plummeting attendances, 44 not out, that's exactly what a vast majority of folk are indeed doing! Uneducated, indeed!
6

dirtyboy added 06:33 - Mar 13 I feel for him with Dozzell and Huws missing. I think we'd almost certainly be pushing for playoffs. That's the sole reason I think Mick has been unlucky this season...that first game was a breath of fresh air. I don't know what the answer is but consistency is important
1

therein61 added 07:28 - Mar 13 I'd be worried about a new manager coming as well
0

pazzy added 08:41 - Mar 13 luke chambers is well worth his place in the team so stop knocking him and get behind the club you suport
0

SamWhiteUK added 09:20 - Mar 13 Muccletonjoe - really? You actually think that? Also, I've always wondered this - why the hell do we have one of the "bottom 4 or 5" budgets in the Championship, when our owner regularly appears on the rich list? Surely there can't be that many clubs with bigger budgets than us? The clubs with parachute payments, maybe, which I know is a fairly large number. Just feel that if Evans was to actually put his hand in his damn pocket then that statement could be very different.

1

RoyalAscotBlue added 10:21 - Mar 13 Of course you do Chambo, but I do not believe that you speak for the entire squad. Not for one second. You are one of the favourites. You play, every week, regardless of form, regardless of whether there is a better option available. I don't want my current boss to be replaced either. I get on well with him and I feel that my position is relatively secure whilst he is in place. I think it's natural for people to be happy with a boss that is happy with them. We all have our own best interests at heart. I think that it often takes somebody a little more removed to judge whether or not the team as a whole is performing to the best of its abilities though.

4

BigscarfAl added 10:34 - Mar 13 I am sure that the captain will (and should ) publically support the manager, (who ever the manager is). It appears that all our creative attacking players at off sick at present!. Or is it that the ones that are selected to play and could be creative are playing to instructions to have a right Royal scrap ?
2

Razor added 10:40 - Mar 13 This is quite pathetic by Chambo and he has lost a lot of my respect. Talk about last throw of the dice, I think the dye has already been cast and I expect a full announcement on season tickets over the "quiet" international week-end.
3

Sheaver26 added 14:12 - Mar 13 At the end of the day all of the decisions on McCarthy are out of the fans hands! So as so called supporters we should be getting behind the team.....that's what fans are supposed to do! I would like McCarthy to stay, as I fear for what might happen if another manager came in on the same budget!
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therein61 added 16:48 - Mar 13 Sorry I missed if I were you at the end of my post.
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Skip73 added 18:08 - Mar 13 Maybe MM is a good man manager thats why the players want him to stay.
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