EX-IRELAND MANAGER Mick McCarthy has said he will accept whatever decision the club makes amid speculation that he is set to be dismissed as Ipswich boss.
McCarthy has been praised in recent seasons for helping to rejuvenate the club. The former Ireland player took over in November 2012 with the club in the relegation places but ultimately guided them to safety.
The improvement continued thereafter, as the Tractor Boys reached the playoffs for the first time in 10 years during the 2014-15 campaign before losing out to rivals Norwich.
Ipswich went on to finish seventh last season, with McCarthy and assistant Terry Connor signing new contracts during this period.
However, the 57-year-old coach’s future has been the subject of much speculation lately.
A number of the club’s fans have become disillusioned with the current regime, with Ipswich currently 14th in the Championship.
And last night’s shock FA Cup exit at the hands of non-league Lincoln could be the final straw, with McCarthy acknowledging that he is under pressure after the game.
If the club want to sack me, so be it, and if the fans are that sick of me then that makes life difficult for me at every game,” he told reporters.
“When we win it’s OK, and when we lose it’s ‘I’m getting sacked in the morning’.
I’ve had wonderful support from the fans, I’m not going to complain about them.
“That was disappointing for all of us, and even more so for the guys that have travelled up, paid their money and watched a dreadful performance.”
Nathan Arnold’s injury-time goal meant Ipswich were beaten by a team ranked 59 places below them in English football, and McCarthy — who managed Ireland between 1996 and 2002 — conceded that the display was unacceptable.
Clearly it wasn’t a good performance but I am going to congratulate Lincoln and say how well they played. They dominated the game,” he said.
“I would expect better from my team and I didn’t get it. I’m not going stand here and berate my players because they’re the ones I have to trust and rely on.
“They’re bitterly disappointed with how we played.”
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