Mick McCarthy
Mick McCarthy happy to let Lee Martin contract run down before making his mind up
By Dave Gooderham
Monday, January 14, 2013
6:21 PM
THE here and now is about one thing and one thing only – Championship survival.
But Mick McCarthy already has one eye on a frantic summer of transfer activity in a changing footballing landscape.
Ahead of his first pre-season at Portman Road, the manager will look to combine deciding on current players, both permanent and loan, with utilising a scenario that he thinks will now benefit the clubs rather than the players.
McCarthy predicts the transfer market this summer will be swamped by free transfers with players accepting they will have no choice but to take less money.
Competition will be fierce, but the Town boss will hope his Ipswich vision, alongside the facilities at the club, will put him in the box seat.
He explained: “It is not going to be easy for players in the summer with the Financial Fair Play. I can see it already coming.
“There are a hell of a lot of players coming out of contract this summer all around the country at different clubs. There will be players who let contracts run out, but they won’t get clubs. The tide is changing.
“It gives us an opportunity and an advantage – it is not just carte blanche for the players.”
McCarthy is clearly planning for a busy summer, but first he must decide on the future of loan players like Bradley Orr and also those coming to the end of their current contracts – a list headed by Lee Martin, Carlos Edwards and Andy Drury.
But in a message that will disappoint the trio, who have all told this newspaper that they want to stay at Portman Road, McCarthy continues to be in no rush to offer new deals.
He said: “If we are safe with a whole clatter of games to go, we might start talking about that. It also gives me the opportunity to have a clean slate and start again.
“I have been in this business long enough that if you start giving players new contracts now and someone says ‘I’m here for the next three years’, they don’t run around as much as they did.
“I have experienced that, though I’m not saying these players would do that.”
With the likes of Martin close to the end of their contract, rival clubs might be eyeing a cheeky bid before the January transfer window closes.
But in typical fashion, McCarthy’s message was loud and clear.
“They are not going to be sold, they are going to stay here,” reflected the Blues boss.
“I’m quite happy to let them run out. We will negotiate with them for new contracts when the time comes.”
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7 comments
I used to suffer from severe insomnia, but thanks to Boo Hoo Steroo i have no trouble going to sleep at night, i just get the wife to read all his budgie drivel and i'm soon fast asleep zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Seaside Sam
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Oh for goodness sake stop whining. On and on and on about loans and invisible men and offshore finance. The club was in a mess. For better or worse MM got the job. Things have improved since then. Not much, I agree, but we're inching up the table. That will do for now. If we're stuck with Evans and Clegg, tough luck. Just give McCarthy a chance, get behind the team, see how the season develops .. and shut up.
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Jerry Jones
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
It is a shame that Mick the No Loans Man is having to go down the meaningless blathering route rather than live in the real world. His common sense and pragmatic approach would be most welcome if only he could keep his integrity. Much better to admit there is no money available to sign even Town's own players. This is after all a fact of life under offshore investment that even the most blinkered fans have come to recognise... even if Jewell, Keane and Major Soundbite have carried tghe can for the cynical asset-stripoping regime. Besides, most if not all Town fans would be very happy to see Martin go.
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Rob Steroo
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
That makes perfect sense. Although we have to accept that, with the club owned by offshore finance, Portman Road is going to be transferred to a petrol derrick in the Indian Ocean. Or so I understand from the all-wise 'R.S.'
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Ken Hairy
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Fail to see any advantage in hanging on to Martin. He flatters to deceive. Lots of running around with no 'end product'. We need players who can create and produce. Edwards is getting very close to his sell by date, maybe worth keeping for another year. Drury shows glimpses of good promise and should be a good future prospect for ITFC.
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Peter Achandunie
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Mick seems to have got this right in my opinion. a) Make sure we don't get relegated, b) have a good look at what we have at the club in terms of players, c) don't rush into long term signings that you'll live to regret quite quickly and d) do a bit of homework on who will be available out there at a reasonable price in summer. Hopefully he'll also buy youth rather than those about to retire!
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CasperF
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
think mick has got the situation dead right,i would like to see the club pay out less money to agents,feeling positive for the first time in many seasons,COYB.
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david peters
Tuesday, January 15, 2013