Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says there’s no point being ‘bitter, twisted and jealous’ about the amount of money their Championship promotions rivals have spent in the January transfer window.

The eighth-placed Blues – who host Reading tonight (7.45pm) – had a low-key month in terms of player movement, fringe duo Jonathan Parr and Tommy Oar departing and defenders Paul Digby (Barnsley, loan) and Kevin Foley (free agent) arriving.

That was in stark contrast to some of the big spending undertaken at several of the clubs surrounding Town in the table as the likes of Middlesbrough, Derby, Burnley, Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham all made key additions.

“We’re not talking about them taking a loan deal for two or three grand a week,” said McCarthy. “We’re talking about nine million and 40 grand a week, we’re talking three or four million pounds and 20 grand a week.

“It would be fab if we could sign players like that, but it’s not the case. I always think you should revel in what you’re good at, keep doing that and make sure that we stay at the top of our game with what we have and not be bitter and twisted and jealous of anybody else. I think we do it well, what we’re doing.

“The likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds and Fulham have all spent money and we’ve been above all of them most of the time.

“And let me tell you, a few of them in the top places will still be worried about us overtaking them.”

The Blues boss continued: “I’ve got 18/19 players that could play in the first team on a regular basis. I am not saying for one minute that there aren’t players out there who would make my squad better or enhance the team, but they would have to be within the budget and parameters of what we can do. And they are not available.

“We’re pushing for the top six with lads who have been brilliant. I prefer to give them the support. Why does it always have to be about looking for something else?

“If we could go out and spend five million quid, four million quid, three million quid and get four new top-quality players we would. But if you can’t do that, stick with what you’ve got, keep getting the best out of them and try and make sure we finish in that top six.

“There will certainly be extra pressure on the ones that have spent big now.”