Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has told any fans who want him out the club ‘be careful what you wish for’.

The Blues may be on the cusp of the Championship play-off places heading into tomorrow night’s game at Cardiff City, but some recent poor form saw the ill-feeling of 2016/17 bubble to surface again.

Calls for McCarthy’s departure were both loud and colourful during Saturday’s comeback win at struggling Burton, with the straight-talking Yorkshireman responding with an expletive-ridden and dismissive post-match press conference to fan the flames.

“It appears that I’ve offended one or two,” said the Blues boss, who was far more calm and considered when speaking to the press yesterday. “Strange that isn’t it? How sensitive people can be when I have to stand there and listen to it for nearly 90 minutes.

“Apparently I’ve upset someone by swearing. If that’s the case then yes they’re right – I shouldn’t have used bad language. I apologise for that.

“I don’t have to apologise for my comments though – there’s a big difference.

“I shouldn’t have dropped the swear words in there and I thoroughly apologise to the sensitive people I’ve upset, but in terms of what I said there’s not a chance I regret that. I meant every single word of it.”

• Read Mick McCarthy’s opinion-splitting press conference in full

Asked how he felt his relationship with the fans was, he replied: “I think with the vast majority of them pretty good actually, but there is a fair vocal few whose opinions I’m probably never going to change now.

“All I’ll do is continue to do my best, whatever is said. That never changes with me. I come in here, get the lads going, get myself going and continue to try and win games.”

He continued: “All that shouting at me isn’t going to drive me out.

“It’ll affect the players. Eventually it will affect the team. It does not help. We need their support.

“They might get their wish in May (when his contract expires) and get somebody else. Do you know what? Be careful what you wish for.

“Because I don’t know if they think when I’ve gone there will suddenly be an injection of 20 million quid to the new manager and they’re going to run up the league and get promoted.

“Somebody might come in and do a whole better job. Sincerely, if I’ve gone, then good luck to them.

“But you’re going to be getting me for now.”

• Comment: Was the swearing really necessary Mick?

Asked if he’s always going to be a manager that splits opinion, he replied: “You tell me. I like myself.

“It’s funny isn’t it? I didn’t split people down the middle when we finished sixth.

“I came off after the game (on Saturday) and said what I felt. If people don’t like me then unlucky. If they do, well great.

“That’s me. That’s just how I felt. I could come in for a press conference and smile. Shall I just become pretty saccharine and sweet? That’s not going to happen is it? You get what you see. It’s been like that all through my career.”

He continued “There’s only one way to change opinions – and that’s results. I said that when I first came in the door here five years ago.

“It’s always, always about results. And I’ll continue to try and get them.”

Asked if supporter negativity could ever cause him to walk away, he replied: “No chance. Whatever I do will be on my own volition. Unless, as I’ve said, somebody decided differently and was to sack me – and I don’t see that coming.”

He sarcastically added: “Are we two points out of the top six at the moment? Yeah, I think we are. I think there’d be a few who’d swap places with us at the minute.”

When later quizzed whether this might be his last job in management, he scoffed: “You’re having a laugh aren’t you? Not a chance. It might be my last season here, but it’s not going to me my last job, no.

“I want more of it, no doubt. I don’t want to be being here and being ordinary, I want to be successful and hopefully get promoted again. I’d like to have another chance in the Premier League. I don’t see why that shouldn’t happen.”