‘He’s not going to get in the team... it’s only fair to him’ - McCarthy on McDonnell’s Aldershot move

The Irishman, pictured in action for Town's Under 23s on Monday night, was on loan with the Shot earlier in the season. Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

McDonnell moves to the National League side on a permanent deal having spent time on loan there earlier in the season, with that temporary spell only interrupted so he could return to Portman Road and provide injury cover at Portman Road.

McCarthy admitted McDonnell, who joined the Blues from Shelbourne in 2014, had little chance of first-team football at Ipswich and believes a departure would allow him to play football and avoid a summer scrum when so many players are out of contract.

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“Adam’s going to join Aldershot and I thought that was only fair to him because he’s at a club with a manager who really likes him,” McCarthy said.

“At that level he’s done really well, he’s not going to get in my first team in front of our lads so we’ve let him go.

“We’ll take a sell-on in case he thrives and does wonderfully well.

“It’s also so that he’s not going to be in the scrum when 500 or 1,000 players are released at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Chris Smith (right, with McDonnell on the bench for the win over Leeds) has returned to Chelmsford. Picture: STEVE WALLER (Image: � Copyright Stephen Waller)

“He’s got himself a job, he’s playing and he can move forward.”

McDonnell, who has agreed a deal until 2019, said: “Being here (at Aldershot) has made me a better player and will help me fulfil my potential.

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“Gary Waddock and James Rowe have put a lot of trust in me, and with the way that we play I’d be stupid not to come back here.

“I wasn’t being promised the game time that I needed at Ipswich Town to make me a better player, so sometimes you have to come down to go back up. At this club, that will definitely make me a better player.

“Everything about the club has been brilliant for me. The players made me fit in from minute one, the staff, the fans, and obviously I love playing at the EBB Stadium.”

In total he made two Championship appearances for the Blues with his only start coming in a 1-0 win at Derby in the final game of the 2015/16 season.

George Fowler could also be set for a permanent move to Aldershot, McCarthy said.

Meanwhile, defender Chris Smith has returned to Chelmsford City on loan for the rest of the season having also been recalled in recent weeks.

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