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Town Confirm McCarthy and Connor to Leave at End of Season
Thursday, 29th Mar 2018 10:38

Town have confirmed that manager Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor will be leaving Portman Road at the end of the season.

McCarthy met owner Marcus Evans on Wednesday night and, according to a statement on the club website, “decided the move was in the best interest of all parties”.

The former Ireland boss, who took over at Portman Road in November 2012, and Connor will stay in charge for the remainder of the season. The duo's contract is up in the summer.

“Mick and I had a discussion and we both agreed that this was the best way forward for him and for Ipswich Town,” Evans told the club website.

“It never got to the point where we actually talked about a new contract. It just felt right that it was time for us both to look at different options. “Mick has been a fantastic manager for this football club, ably supported by Terry who has also been invaluable in the development of the team.

“When Mick arrived, we looked to be on the way to relegation. He saved us from that and then took us to the play-offs within two years.

“In his six years here he has made us a very competitive club in what is a very competitive league. No one looks forward to playing Ipswich.

“He has also been instrumental in developing our youth policy and has overseen the progress of a number of our young players from the academy into the first-team and nurtured their development in line with the club’s strategy.

“He’s immensely popular with all the staff at Portman Road and has built a strong backroom team who will provide important continuity as we move into a new era.

“On a personal note, I have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with him which is vital between owner and manager at any football club.

“Mick will see out his contract here and then we will look to make an announcement regarding his successor in due course.

“In the meantime, I want to put on record my sincere thanks to Mick for the job he has done here as our manager and urge supporters to get behind him and the players so that we can finish the season as strongly as possible.”

McCarthy added: “I had a good discussion with Marcus and we feel this is the right thing to do for me and for Ipswich Town.

“I have loved my time here and I am proud of what I have achieved over the last six years - and the relationship I have enjoyed with the players and all the staff at the club in that time.

“I won’t be leaving with any regrets. I have given everything for Ipswich Town and I will see out my contract in the same way.”


Photo: TWTD



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iaintaylorx added 10:40 - Mar 29
Well, that is a massive shock to me to be honest, as I did think he was going to be offered another contract.

I believe it is the right decision made, but only if we bring in a younger manager, with fresh ideas and an attacking philosophy and one that is nice on the eye - passing football!

Mick deserves HUGE credit, it cannot be denied. I have wanted him gone, but now until the end of the season, we need to thank Mick and his staff for both keeping us up, and giving us some great times! I don't think many managers would make the playoffs with a squad costing £10k!

Resources didn't help him, and it will be the same old story if Evans does the same by tightening the purse strings. Give the new manager some money to spend on his own players, and get that youth burning into the squad and I genuinely believe it could be an exciting season next season (providing the right manager is chosen).

Dropping the season tickets was a great move and now another good decision (in my opinion) has been made.

It cannot be denied Mick would make it at another club, and still knows his stuff but I think the relationship with the fans was a big problem!

Thank you Mick, but it is for the best.
79

TrueBlue1998 added 10:41 - Mar 29
I think this is the right move as the relationship with the fans has left us no choice really. Still think we should really appreciate and respect the job he's done though in starting to repair the mess the club was in as a result of Keane's legacy
48

jabberjackson added 10:41 - Mar 29
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessss!
-2

hampstead_blue added 10:42 - Mar 29
The correct decision.

His relationship management skills are brutal. Dug himsef a hole and kept peeing into it......
17

BYRNE_16 added 10:43 - Mar 29
Thank you Mick and TC for all your efforts. Good luck and all the best in your next position.
39

Steve_M added 10:43 - Mar 29
Thanks Mick for giving us back our pride and dignity in 2012 and the only decent season in over a decade in 2014-15. It's a real shame that we didn't build on that, indeed couldn't build on the decent home form of the earlier part of this season but the time is right for a change.

Now up to Marcus Evans to make a good appointment. He's on a 33% success rate so far.
32

Penguinblue added 10:43 - Mar 29
Alleluia
1

tractorshark added 10:44 - Mar 29
Right decision but I now hope fans give him the appreciation he deserves between now and the end of the season.
In time, his reign at Ipswich will be remembered far more fondly.
32

TractorBoy654 added 10:44 - Mar 29
Be careful what you wish for. McCarthy has been fantastic for us and let's not look past that.
-4

deano85 added 10:44 - Mar 29
I think that now many fans have got what they want, its important to get as much support down PR as possible, to show the players that we want them, and that its a happy place.
I would even go on to say, last home game of the season, give mick a good send off...
51

Cheshire_Blue added 10:45 - Mar 29
I don't blame him after all the abuse. There is no one better suited to managing a football club in our circumstances and I fear for the future.
Time will tell.
Good luck Mick. You will not be out of a job for long and I am sure you will achieve success and be appreciated better elsewhere.
13

tempzzzz added 10:45 - Mar 29
Forget Easter, I feel like it's Christmas day right now!!! So happy! I'll be back next season with my season ticket again as I would imagine thousands more will be too :)

14

Tractorboy1985 added 10:46 - Mar 29
Thanks for what you've done Mick.. whatever people say he done a decent job with the resources Evans provided! But this is the correct decision.. the club needs a change and a freshen up! Over to you evans but sadly I don't have much faith! Hopefully a new manager will fill the stadium and play football like a bobby Robson or bobby Ferguson did! COYB
21

TR11BLU added 10:46 - Mar 29
Knees Up at St Andrews Saturday!!!!!!

Yee Hah
3

StringerBell added 10:46 - Mar 29
That's made my year
5

Popeadrian64 added 10:47 - Mar 29
..can we now show the guy show respect and support..
40

christiand added 10:47 - Mar 29
Best move for all parties in moving forwards. Although things have got negative towards MM over the last 18 months I feel confident that MM and TC will get well supported up until the end of the season now the news of their departure is official.
14

StringerBell added 10:48 - Mar 29
"No one looks forward to playing Ipswich"

No, it's 'No one looks forward to watching Ipswich'
14

Blue_75 added 10:48 - Mar 29
For the best but we should now give Mick the decent send off he deserves.
He's done a good job for us under difficult circumstances and some of the personal stick he's had to endure has been uncomfortable to see.
He showed the right intent with the players he brought in this season but was unbelievably unlucky with all the midfield injuries!
Thanks Mick!
COYB
28

Surco72 added 10:49 - Mar 29
Undoubted effort from MM and TC but definitely the right time for parties to go separate ways as Club is always bigger than any individual . Thanks for your hard work and good luck for the future MM , roll on new appointment and a fresh start
17

Mark added 10:49 - Mar 29
Absolutely the right decision, it could not go on as it was. I hope we can now all look forward to the new regime and thank Mick for his work rather than there being any further hostility. Over to you now Marcus Evans to choose the right replacement and to provide some funds. Let's make ITFC enjoyable to watch again and win back the lost supporters.
28

Razor added 10:51 - Mar 29
OH HAPPY DAY---------LET THE SUN SHINE IN ETC ETC

This definitely the right decision for so many reasons, not least the club was dyeing on its feet.

Yes he saved us from relegation (and got handsomely rewarded) and fulfilled his initial brief well, and scaped in to play offs due to Derbys inability to beat Reading at home (lost 3-0)..

One the unhappiest management periods ever,especially the last 2 years culminating in the antics at Norwich and complete lack of connection with fans.

Evans had nowhere to go and has made the right decision-----needs another one now and then hopefully we can ALL GET TOGETHER for next season including those who will return.
19

Warkys_Tash added 10:51 - Mar 29
Lets be honest this isn't a shock, not for me anyway. He was always going. The relationship with the majority of fans was lost and the club couldn't continue to decline in attendances alone.

Notice Mick never mentioned his relationship with the fans. Like it or not, he has been let go despite hm claiming its his choice.

He has done well and certainly 100 times better than Keane or Jewell - They were really dark days. But its time to freshen it up. Trouble is I have zero faith in Evans to get the right man in & spend the amount of cash we need to get in the top 6.

17

StringerBell added 10:52 - Mar 29
'I have enjoyed with the players and all the staff at the club in that time.'

What about us, McCarthy? One final eff off?

You won't be missed.
1

bostonusablue added 10:52 - Mar 29
This Is the best thing I've woken up to since getting an Action Man with eagle eyes on Christmas morning 1980.

Seriously though, I can't believe ME finally made the right decision. Let's hope he makes an even better decision with the selection of our next manager.
14


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