Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy is more than happy to keep picking up free transfers and loan players as he continues to foster an underdog spirit at Portman Road.

The Blues sold Aaron Cresswell to West Ham for £3.75m recently, but that payment doesn’t arrive as one lump sum. Managing director Ian Milne has promised fans that all of that cash will be reinvested in the football club in some form, just not necessarily on transfer fees.

“We’ll not be going out and paying any money for anybody I don’t think,” said McCarthy, after his side started pre-season with a 4-0 win at Dublin-based side Shelbourne on Saturday. “We’ll be doing the same as we have been, Bosmans and loan deals, and see if we can work the oracle again doing that.

“What we have got is funds for wages though.”

McCarthy has always said that he has a fabulous working relationship with owner Marcus Evans and that he was always aware that he would be restricted in terms of spending. Is that still the case?

“Absolutely,” he replied. “As far as I’m aware he’s got his leg in the club for 82 million quid and puts five million quid a year in just to keep it going. If somebody is trying to say that he’s not putting enough money in I think they’re being slightly disingenuous. I do understand the situation and I’m cool with it.

“It’s a challenge but it always is whether you’ve got tons of money, no money or a bit of money.”

Having finished ninth in the Championship last season, does McCarthy think his low-budget but ultra-spirited squad can compete against the teams coming down from the Premier League with big parachute payments?

“Without doubt,” he replied. “We’ll be competing against teams with a lot of money. Norwich will have it, Cardiff will have it, Fulham will have it, Wigan probably, Middlesbrough seem to be splashing a few quid, Derby...

“It makes the competition a bit tougher, but it will be all the more sweeter if we can beat them.

“I always enjoyed beating the odds as a player and it seems that’s my role as a manager now too. I’ve enjoyed doing in the past and I’ll continue doing it.

“It would be nice to have a few quid to spend, but maybe I wouldn’t know what to do with it! I’m always one that makes the best of what I’ve got, or at least attempts to. I don’t whinge about it.

“And it does create a good team spirit because they’re all, more or less, on an equal footing. There are no big stars coming in on vast huge wages. I like having players with a point to prove.”