Big Mac has the spirit for another bite at top flight
THE irony should not be lost on certain Ipswich Town supporters. Those who rounded on Mick McCarthy for substituting Barry Cotter on Tuesday night were in thrall to an Irish youngster who, more than likely, would not even have been at the club were it not for the strict financial parameters the manager had been forced to work under. McCarthy hasn’t just had his hands tied by cash-strapped owner Marcus Evans, he’s been effectively bound and gagged, too. Yet, Ipswich still sit ahead of their great rivals Norwich City — who have benefitted from the millions on offer in the form of parachute payments following recent relegation from the Premier League. On the other hand, the Tractor Boys haven’t been near the top flight in 16 years but that has not lessened expectation. And the relationship between manager and supporters had been strained for some time. While McCarthy confirmed at the end of last month that he would not be signing a new contract once this season concluded, he decided to call it quits early after going out with a win against Barnsley on Tuesday night. McCarthy had a good run at Portman Road — almost six seasons — although it almost came to an end last season when nonleague Lincoln City knocked them out of the FA Cup and the 59-year-old was met with chants of ‘Mick McCarthy, your football is s***e’. McCarthy said earlier this week he wants another shot at bringing a club into the Premier League, probably with loyal assistant Terry Connor (above) alongside, and doesn’t need a break — despite being in almost continuous employment for more than 25 years since starting as player-manager with Millwall in 1992. A decade later, he was managing Ireland at the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, but now the future is not so certain. He turns 60 next February and it is obvious that, despite the sour end at Ipswich, his spirit burns as brightly as ever. A proud Yorkshireman who hasn’t lost any of his growl, he has become a master in controlling a dressing room, so it may well be he is the man to finally put manners on Leeds United and return them to their place among the elite of English football. He’ll certainly have no issues dealing with the fans. Or the owner for that matter.