Ian Holloway believes Ipswich Town will ‘do well’ to hold onto manager Mick McCarthy this summer, after backing him to take over at Aston Villa.

Villa are still looking for a manager to replace Remi Garde after having their relegation from the Premier League confirmed, with McCarthy featuring regularly amongst the favourites for the position, along with David Moyes, Nigel Pearson and Steve Bruce.

Holloway believes McCarthy fits the bill.

“Mick McCarthy should be on the shortlist for the next Aston Villa job, without a shadow of a doubt,” Holloway told Sky Sports.

“I think Ipswich will do well to hold onto McCarthy this summer. Someone with his credibility and know-how will be hot property.

“Villa must go for someone who knows the Championship and have seen it and done it before.

“It’s going to take someone with real experience to clean up that mess. It’s going to take down to earth talking. A straight talking person will need to lead and make the players believe again.

“That man will need to get the overpaid players who don’t care out of the door. It will take someone with great skill to achieve that. It’s massive job and someone has a huge job on their hands.

“They’ll be a long queue of people who’d want that job - it’s a belting gig, but it’s one hell of a project.”

When asked about the vacancy at Villa, McCarthy said: “It’s always interesting when people mention your name for jobs. I can’t do anything about it. My focus is here.

“But don’t even think I’m not ambitious and I’m just settled here and just want to be doing what I’m doing, just trying to get in the play-offs. I want to get promoted and be in the Premier League again – however that might be.

“Yes, it is flattering. If the remit is for somebody who gets teams promoted then I’ve got a good CV for that haven’t I? But my focus is here.”