Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says he is looking forward to seeing how Norwich City do on a reduced budget next season ahead of the two teams meeting at Carrow Road tomorrow (12pm).
The Canaries spent three consecutive seasons in the Premier League between 2011 and 2014, then bounced back at the first time of asking in 2015 via the play-offs as they lived off the riches which come with life at the top table.
They’ve found life in the Championship rather tougher this time around though and, following last season’s eighth-place finish, they go into tomorrow’s East Anglian clash locked on the same number of points in mid-table – Town a place higher in 12th courtesy of a superior goal difference.
“I’ve been asked if I’m surprised they’re not above us,” said McCarthy. “I guess, with the money they had coming down from the Premier League and the players they’ve spent it on, then yes I am. They’ve had a few more quid than we’ve had to spend, let’s put it that way.
“We’ve got them beneath us, although they’re on the same points, as well as Hull and Sunderland – who apparently have £96million (in parachute payments) over the next three years to spend.
“Those teams should be better but it doesn’t always work that way.”
Norwich fans ironically applauded in the 16th minute of their home East Anglian derby last season to mock Ipswich’s number of seasons stuck in the second-tier. It could be a moment which comes back to haunt them.
The Norfolk club’s multi-million pound parachute payments run out this summer and already they are looking to get their finances in order. Last month they moved on Alex Pritchard, Cameron Jerome, Steven Naismith and Russell Martin, while it’s expected that rising star James Maddison will follow out the exit door.
McCarthy, who has overseen Championship finishes of 9th, 6th, 7th and 16th on a shoestring budget at Portman Road, added: “I keep hearing stories about ones who are running out of parachute money, them included, who are going to have to budget accordingly.
“I’d like to see a few more on my budget and see how well they do, to be honest. That would be quite interesting.”
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