IPSWICH Town are today keeping tight-lipped over mounting speculation that Mick McCarthy is set to be named their new manager.

Odds on the former Wolves boss taking over at Portman Road plummeted last night – as it was confirmed to this newspaper that he was leading the chase.

But we now understand that a new manager will not be announced today, suggesting the negotiations with the 53-year-old have hit some kind of stumbling block.

Speaking to the club website, Simon Clegg confirmed a short-list had now been drawn up with interviews beginning.

The chief executive said Ipswich were “inundated” with applications from potential candidates home and abroad.

Clegg added: “We received a number of applications for the manager’s position from many well-respected names in football. Having sifted through the applicants, we have now drawn up our short-list and interviews are underway.”

In addition to Alan Curbishley and George Burley among others, Harry Redknapp and Ian Holloway have been linked with the Town post as well as the vacancy at Blackburn Rovers.

Town supporters are also hoping Matt Holland will be involved in the managerial set-up but that won’t become clear until a new man is appointed.