Town boss Mick McCarthy admitted it was a “strange feeling” taking charge of the Blues during the 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City having announced that he will be leaving the club in the summer earlier in the week.

Reflecting on the match itself, which was won by a contentious 21st minute penalty netted by Jota after referee Roger East adjudged that Cameron Carter-Vickers has fouled Jacques Maghoma, he said: “I thought we’d just started to get into the game. I thought it was a good piece of play when we got the cross in.

“To be fair, their keeper catches it and throws it out but we should have confronted him in their half and fouled him in their half, and not let him get into our penalty area.

“I haven’t seen it again, somebody just asked me if I thought it was a penalty. Cam says he barely touched him but he should have barely touched him over the halfway line and there’d be no argument, would there? If you allow them to get in the box you’re in danger of giving a penalty away.”

Asked how he found the match two days on from the announcement of his exit, he reflected: “Just surreal really, just a strange feeling. We’ve done everything as we would normally do, me and TC jumping up and down like a couple of mad men and screaming and shouting, encouraging, cajoling, bollocking, organising.

“There’s been no difference at all, except there has. There just has. Just the feeling.

"All the chat is about me but I think people forget that TC, who has done a great job here, is out of work at the end of May.

“I think that’s a little bit unfair with the work and job and coaching he does. So that’s sad and I just said to him ‘How do you feel?’ and he says he said ‘I don’t know’.

“It’s brand new, how do you expect to feel? I’ve not experienced it before. All these 26 years’ experience as a manager I’ve experienced something else now.”

He says he can’t really put into words quite what’s changed: “I want to be as bothered as I always am and I’ve wanted to win that game. You’ve seen me on the sidelines with TC, but there’s something that’s gone, certainly, for sure. I wish I could articulate it better but I a football player, coach, manager not a poet.

“But not quite feeling the same doesn’t equate to not doing the job properly. You have to understand. Sometimes you might get up not feeling great, might have flu, but you still come out and do the job properly.

“That’s the same, it’s just an odd feeling. I’ve never had it. But you’ve all watched that game. The lads have played well, certainly in the second half there was a good response, me and TC are doing exactly the same thing. I’ve come in here and been exactly the same and that’s the way I’ll be because it’s my job.”

He says there’s been no change in his relationship with the players: “None at all, we’ve got a huge respect for each other. You’ve watched the game today, I think that’s a bit of a question which has been answered by them on the pitch.

“Ask them, they’re disappointed, they’re a little bit shell-shocked. There are players who are looking for contracts, there are players who are on loan, there are players who are on loan.

“There are players who are wondering next season what’s going to happen, somebody might come in and not fancy them. That does put a real element in doubt in their heads.

“If there’s been one constant over the last five, nearly six, years it’s been me and TC and we’ve done the same things and they know what to expect. It’s into the unknown for them now.”

Asked whether he plans to take a break when he leaves the Blues at the end of the season in May, he added: “I’m not in a position where I’ve been losing loads of games. I was going to say or was getting abuse from everywhere, but I am getting a fair bit.

“But it’s not like I’m thinking, ‘Wow, we’re getting battered a bruised and we’re in a relegation fight and I should be leaving and have a rest’. No, not at all. I’m ready to go.

“It’s quite the opposite, it’s unusual that a manager comes in and announces his job’s going, isn’t it? It doesn’t happen too often. It’s usually a club website that announces the manager’s gone and nobody sees him again.’

Regarding the timing, he said: “It had to be done. A note went about it being done before the season ticket sales. That’s not right. I needed to know for my own sanity and my own good what was going to happen. But I’ve discussed how it happened and why it happened, that’s all old hat.

“But we’re not going up, we’re not going down. Maybe it should have been done in the international break and somebody else could have come and done the eight games, maybe that would have inspired everybody a bit more.

“But when I spoke to Marcus it was never in doubt that I’d do them. But it is an unusual situation. It’s maybe happened before, certainly maybe in the Premier League, other managers know they’re leaving. But I’ve never experienced it either as a player or as a manager so I don’t know what to expect.

“When I’m barking at the lads, ‘You’re being like a baby, play properly, put your foot in, do this…’. I don’t know. I don’t know how they’re feeling.

“I said the other day I might be barking at them on the training ground and they might say, ‘Piss off gaffer, do me a favour, you’re not going to be around next year!’.

“I said, ‘If you do I’m going to be rolling round on the turf with you, by the way, because I am still the manager’.

“And they are still respecting everything I’ve said and I still respect them immensely because they’ve given me everything.

“Some of them have been here ever since I’ve been here and so it is important that myself and TC, and I do believe we’re good workers and good professionals, that we keep doing it the right way until they get another manager.”

He added: “During the game I’m not thinking, ‘What am I going to be doing’ or ‘What’s TC going to be doing?’. There was none of that at all, there was a complete focus and competitive edge on the game.

“You must have seen that because in the second half we were doing all the pushing and we tried and the lads responded really well.”

Quizzed on whether there was any doubt that he would see out the final eight games, he reiterated: “My contract’s running out. And, of course, there was that slight little notion that we won all eight games and got in the play-offs I’d have another year to go.

“That would have pissed everybody off, wouldn’t it? Can you imagine that when I come back next season, ‘Surprise!’. ‘Oh no!’. Anyway, it’s not looking like that will happen now.”

Asked about injury problems and key players being out, he responded: “Everybody gets it, it’s not only us. I think in the bigger scheme of things we’ve just had a bit of a dip towards the end but we’ve had a good season.

“Where we are, where we finish, let’s see in terms of budgets and where we all are. It’s looking to me like it’s started to pan out, Wolves have spent probably the most, Burton have probably spent the least.

“I looked at us and we were middle of the table in goals against, goals for, lots of things we were just middle and I thought that’s probably where we are. And if we finish up any higher than that we’ll have done really well.”

Despite his impending departure, McCarthy says he is in no doubt that he will carry on in management for a long while to come yet.

“Neil Warnock’s got nine years on me. I’m happy to do it for that long, I’ve no desire to pack it in at all, I’m enjoying it,” he insisted. “I’ll still be enjoying it when I go to the training ground this week as well. I’ve no desire to pack it in, me and the missus would kill each other if I do anyway.”

Birmingham boss Garry Monk waas pleased with the way his team prevented the Blues from being able to get back into the match.

“I thought we managed the game really, really well today," he said. "I thought in the first half especially we looked very dangerous on the counter-attack and probably could have done a little bit better with some of those situations.

“We looked aggressive and bright and then in the second half, as you’d expect, Ipswich, they don’t carry that pressure that we carry and they’re 1-0 down, so they’re going to come at you.

“But I thought we managed the game really well in the second half. We didn’t really let them create any really clear-cut opportunities, but what they did have in terms of pressure or situations we defended really well, stoutly, showed our spirit and fight, and we dug in when we needed to. You need a team to have those attributes in these tougher situations.

“I was pleased with the players today in terms of how they managed the game and obviously the three points is the most important thing.”

Photo: TWTD

Seasider added 10:56 - Apr 1 Like JAS I agree that it is a strange situation,and it is understandable that the Manager and Players feel in limbo. I was surprised that Mick was so cautious in his team selection in the circumstances;but it is par for the course with him,and nothing seems to have changed. Ipswich look pretty toothless at the moment,and the entertainment continues to be thin on the ground. Once again I feel that Marcus Evans is to blame for this situation with his scrooge like attitude;making McCarthy stay so that he doesn't have to fork out on temporary cover like George Burley.Although he could have kept his loose change in his pocket had he promoted from within,pending a permanent replacement. Instead he has left not only Mick and TC in this surreal situation;but also the players and most importantly us fans. Strange very strange situation indeed.Wonder what will happen on Monday against the mighty Millwall,who have shown what can be done without a lot of money,provided you have a good Manager ! Don't think a brolley will be much good against their bovver boy fans,after what I witnessed at the Den in the cup in 1978;so I think I will wear a tin hat !!!

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BlueandTruesince82 added 10:59 - Apr 1 Lets also remember that most of the clubs where those managers are incumbent will not want their manager to speak to other clubs until they have secured promtion or the division and in the case of the players offs not until those are over for any clubs in question. Thats understandable, also those managers will not want to distract themselves so we have to wait. ME will have an idea who he wants but may not be able.to control when he can talk to them. I feel given he was offered once Mogga is no 1. Now I am not inspired by that so let's say actually it gives chance for some left field appilcants to come forward. Those that think its easy finding the right manager these days, look how long it took Everton, look at Rangers.... its easy to appoint a manmager but if you rush it you pluck from the merry go round and get Pardew or Hughes, these are the David O'Leary/Bryan Robson types who should be managing in Thailand or somewhere but now the frequency of sackings keep the merry go round turning. Mick is going so lets cheer up until we have a new appointment...... but if its Megson we lose our $#!÷

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cat added 11:01 - Apr 1 Indeed it will be a “strange feeling” when we next register a goal, in a season which is panning out to be nothing short of a ‘death by a thousand cuts'. Nice piece of praise by MM for our striking coach T.C, ha, they say timing is everything! However negative things appear at present, there is plenty to be positive, optimistic and realistic about, new manager, fresh approach, new tactics, favourites fighting for their places, pre match analysis hopefully differing from the usual, great team blah, blah, blah, seeing which side of the fence posters on here choose, cause there will always be differing opinions, fair play on that one, and of course, quite appropriately on this Easter Sunday the ‘reincarnation of the ‘Delusion of Grandeur post, simply blinding, tops the lot So in the words of a true English warrior (A.J) “NO RISK, NO REWARD” “Simply Lovleh” be seeing you 👌

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martin587 added 11:10 - Apr 1 The crux of the matter is that the owner has left the club in limbo.Nobody now has the incentive to push the club forward.We are just standing still.What a terrible state of affairs this club is in.Once again total uncertainty. I blame Mr.Evans whole heartedly for this diobolicle mess.He needs to get a grip,release MM of his duties and put BK in charge of team affairs until the announcement of out next manager,otherwise it's getting very embarrassing for both parties.Thats how I see it anyway.🤔

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brittaniaman added 11:29 - Apr 1 Goodness knows what the game will be like tomorrow, with the state of our pitch and all the recent rainfall, plus Mondays weather forecast does not help ???? Just perhaps Dino could start a Gardening Leave by helping to renovate the pitch from Tuesday onwards ??? WE can all wish and dream I suppose !!!!!
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blackcat added 11:34 - Apr 1 This idiot was always planning to hold on to the bitter end only the club We love is being harmed, If ME is a smart business man he should know this is a disaster and get him of to mow his meadow now. Let us enjoy the end of season with a caretaker manager
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inghamspur added 11:37 - Apr 1 Not sure if this is news or not to anyone but I've heard from a very reliable source that ME is actively looking to sell the club. I'm thinking that the conversation leading up to the MM announcement this week probably went along the lines of "Look Mick, I'm not planning to be here myself next season so I can't offer you another contract.....". Interesting times ahead then, changes for the better hopefully. Before that happens, the last 7 games look like being a painful experience for Town fans, as any passion seems to be evaporating fast from the team with the uncertainty ahead. Roll on next season.

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Taricco_Fan added 11:45 - Apr 1 Is just wish the football media and fans of other clubs would pay closer attention. Blowing smoke up McCarthy's backside and "careful what you wish for" got very tiresome from people who don't watch Ipswich or take in his press conferences and interviews. He's a stubborn egotist who plays crap football, end of.
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bluesfan_whatever added 12:56 - Apr 1 Ipswich must have a minority of the worst set of so called fans in the country .Rude offensive and loutish People who slate off the manager and are so pathetic that they cannot cope when he stands his corner Any new manager and any new players will be slated and criticised within weeks of taking over This minority of the so called fans on here are partly responsible for the awfulness of supporting what was once a great club Missing letters out of swear words is not clever or any less rude Careful what you wish for

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SheptonMalletBlue added 13:23 - Apr 1 Boring tw@t!!!!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 13:31 - Apr 1 I guess some of us like to use all the words in the English language, there are some good ones. Let us not be restained by others perception of us for the mean nothing.
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stringtheory added 14:23 - Apr 1 MicksZzzTactics - reference Delusions Of Grandeur. While you're 'leafing' through the online dictionary have a look at 'Narcissism'. Mirrors in every room?
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:16 - Apr 1 Bluesfan whatever, STOP THERE, the gate numbers were always around 20,000 when Evans took over, it started slowly decreasing. The gate now is around 10,000,and a good number of the 10,000 are not happy, So your ''minority of the worst fans'' dosnt hold up.IF you discounted those that have already stopped attending then perhaps they are a minority,but if THEY stopped attending too ,the gate figures would really be grim reading. How long could ITFC survive with attendances of less than 10,000 ? Recent figures have shown that attendances in Championship are increasing,but that is the opposite with ITFC . THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE .

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MicksZzzTactics added 18:22 - Apr 1 @stringtheory ROFL! Another faintly amusing 'Personal Attack' I see... Sorry to disappoint you matey, but basically I don't have any personal NEED whatsoever to be "leafing" through any online dictionary myself (in my previous post it was simply meant as a certified source of reference that would back up my descriptive definition of 'GDD'....in case anyone with ulterior & vindictive Pro-MM motives doubted it's clinical accuracy) on neither Psychology nor Mental & Personality Disorders ....you see I'm already very well informed on the whole subject partly because I just so happen to be married to a very respected & top professional PSYCHIATRIST, and has been for many a years now! Ohhhh and no we only have 2 mirrors in the house I believe, one in toilet and one in the wardrobe :-) :-) Oddly :-) :-) she doesn't find me the slightest "Narcissistic" in any NON-IRONIC or NON-SELF-IRONIC ) way that is! at all!! -- I just ask her right now as a matter of fact lol -- or she would not only definitely had lectured me about it a long time ago both in a likely strict patronizing and caring correctable professional kind of way LOL, but as she also just said: simply not only not have chosen to marry me but rather dumped quickly too!!! . You (and at least the occasionally very double-standardish in his hmmmm varying views on what is "Political Correct" + not the least what is JUSTIFIABLE "Self Defense" on a open chat like this @Seasider too) who doesn't know me personally at all and have never even met be in person apparently does ...SOLELY based on presumably first & foremost the notorious length of many of my skewed and/or often deliberately wry anti-regime inputs & images I upload on this here most fabulously intellectual & overly sincere (NOT!) chat-board???!!! WOW!!! Seriously??? Well it's your view and your prerogative I guess, but as I (backed up by my "ignorant & silly "wife LOL) just implied above, a woefully thinly & poorly based view at that! .....so please by all means stick with it if you so chose LOL cause I'm not half-seriously offended to be perfectly honest, and besides from both a purely clinical as well as a mere chat-board perspective it actually winds up showing more about your *MISGUIDED* personalities than it does about my *REAL* one! :-) :-)

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dommyboyblue added 22:01 - Apr 1 Caught a big one there stringtheory ha ha
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stringtheory added 22:37 - Apr 1 dommyboyblue - yeah, touched a nerve I guess.
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Davidwb20 added 13:01 - Apr 2 Good bye MM your stats speak for themself-Two words sum you up boring and self obsessed!
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