Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy insists he is not happy just being a mid-table Championship boss and has revealed he will seek reassurances from owner Marcus Evans about the club’s ambition this summer.
The Yorkshireman, who took former clubs Sunderland and Wolves into the top flight, will celebrate 25 years in management next month. At four years and 117 days in charge, he is the longest-serving boss in the brutal hiring and firing world of the second-tier.
Without doubt the 58-year-old has worked wonders on a shoestring budget at Portman Road, overseeing finishes of ninth, sixth and seventh, but he has faced growing criticism from a section of supporters following 12 to 18 months of stagnation.
Many called for his head due to a continued lack of entertainment value, prior to a recent improvement in performances leading into today’s East Anglian derby at Norwich City. Meanwhile, his backers say ‘be careful what you wish for’ and point the finger of blame at Evans’ lack of spending on transfer fees as the reason for the club treading water.
Speaking to the national press, McCarthy, who has twice said he will consider his future this summer, said: “I’ve got a year’s contract to run so I can’t just up sticks and go anywhere else.
“I love doing this job and I give everything to it. I just wondered if the fans were getting tired of me.
“Me turning up next season going ‘Hello’ and they all go ‘F**k off, we don’t want you’ – that’s not going to be any good is it?”
He added: “I am not happy where we are. I want to be more competitive. I am not happy being mid-table and thinking there is no pressure.
“If anybody thinks ‘Oh, he’s on a nice little number down there, mid-table, it doesn’t really matter’ that is far from the truth.
“I want to know what we’re going to do, I want to know what the budget will be, I want to know if we can be competitive.
“And I want to know that if I’m going to be here the club is going to be happy with that.
“I’m still very ambitious. It burns brightly and I’d like to be back in the Premier League.
“It’s not going to happen this season and it might never happen again – but it won’t stop me wanting it.”
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