I’M FOCUSED ON IMPS – COWLEY
LINCOLN City boss Danny Cowley has played down talk linking him with the Ipswich Town manager’s job.
On Thursday, it was announced that Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 59-year-old guided the Tractor Boys to the Championship play-offs in 2014-15 and is the longestserving manager in the division, having taken the reins in 2012.
However, his relationonly ship with the club’s fans has deteriorated in recent times and it is no great surprise he is now set to move on.
Success
Cowley has been named as a possible successor following his success with Lincoln in the last couple of years. They won the National League last term and had a great run to the FA Cup quarter-finals, while they are in the League Two play-off spots this term and through to next Sunday’s Checkatrade Tropy final against Shrewsbury.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if higher level clubs hadn’t noticed Cowley’s work in conjunction with his brother and assistant manager Nicky.
But the 39-year-old told the Lincolnshire Echo: “Our focus remains wholeheartedly here. We’re eternally thankful for the opportunity we’ve been given here.
“It would be crazy of us to think of anything else but Lincoln City and what we’re doing between now and hopefully the end of May (when the play-off final will take place).”
McCarthy, meanwhile, is preparing for his long goodbye.
Strange
“How am I feeling?” said McCarthy. “A little bit strange actually because I’m sat here with eight games to go and I still want to finish as high as we possibly can and have a good end to the season.
“How this will affect it, time will tell. I thought it was important for everybody to get it sorted, bearing in mind I get asked every week ‘what’s happening, what are you doing?’.
“It was kind of mutual because, having spoken to Marcus (Evans – owner) about what he wants to do with the club moving forward, about me, about my ambitions and what I want to do – and perhaps with the sequence of events over the last few months – it’s probably best for all of us.”