‘It would definitely be a challenge’ - Skuse on facing former boss McCarthy in the future

Speaking less than 24 hours after his former manager’s departure, Skuse paid tribute to a boss who brought him to the club in the summer of 2013 and retains the deep respect of the Ipswich Town players following his exit.

Skuse has played 205 times under McCarthy and was shocked when he was told of his departure in the moments following Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory over Barnsley.

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“It was a shock to the system, definitely,” Cole said.

“From a personal point of view I cannot thank him enough – he’s the one that brought me here and signed me.

“I’ve played a lot of games under him and earned a couple of new contracts under him and I cannot speak highly enough of the pair of them.

“It might sound like a scratched record but it’s true. The way they conduct themselves as gentlemen, not just a manager and a coach, they are a true credit to themselves.

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“I know I speak on behalf of the whole dressing-room when I say a big thank you. A thank you for their efforts, even after the announcement that they were leaving the way they’ve come in and conducted themselves was admirable.”

McCarthy has already stated his desire to get back into work, if and when that happens, Skuse expects any encounters with a McCarthy-led side to be a ‘challenging’ occasion.

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“Mick is a credit to himself and I’m sure he’s not going to be out of work long,” the midfielder said.

“It would be great to go up against a team managed by him in the future but it also wouldn’t be good because it would be such a hard test!

“It would definitely be a challenge and I don’t know whether it would be nice or heated but it would certainly be a challenge.”