Mick Still Has The Backing Of Marcus Evans

If we remove the caretaker managers that have tried to steady the ship from time to time, we arrive at the remarkable fact that Ipswich Town football club has hired only 15 full-time managers since it became a professional club way back in 1936!

The long stayers include of course Scott Duncan who was at the club for eighteen years, from the 12th November 1937 right through until the 7th August 1955 as we bounced around the leagues.

Sir Alf Ramsey spent eight very successful years at Town from the 8th August 1955 to the 30th April 1963 when he was appointed the England manager and we all know what he achieved three years later in the year of 1966!

Bill McGarry, was with us for as long as Mick McCarthy has been with us now and he took charge on the 1st May 1963 and left again on the 8th September 1964 when after a brief interim period role under Cyril Lea, Sir Bobby Robson was appointed.

After a turbulent time in his formative years, when the supporters felt he should leave but the board thought otherwise, he went on to manage Ipswich 709 times and what a huge success he turned out to be, as it coincided with our most successful period in history!

Thirteen and a half years after his appointment he too left Portman Road to manage England on the 18th August 1982 and he was arguably the most successful English coach since Sir Alf!

So when it comes to Ipswich Town, the philosophy continues to be that patience is a virtue. In the modern game however this is indeed a rarity and although we are often disheartened by events both on and off the field, we must not overlook the benefits of biding our time.

Mick McCarthy said this week that his relationship with Marcus Evans is still on a very firm footing and he is not the sort of man to be swayed by emotional fervor.

As our manager faces his most difficult time at Ipswich Town, the owner does not seem to be suffering from any knee-jerks it seems.

McCarthy explained to Ipswich Player that the owners mood is not usually influenced by outside forces. ‘ He has always been very supportive and nothing has changed. He is the same now as when we were in the play-off places. He knows what we are striving for.’

With Inter Milan going through fifteen managers since we were last in the Premier in the year 2000, it tells you everything you need to know about the precarious nature of the job.

Although I may be as critical as anyone of the tactics we employ and our current league position, I still believe that our history can teach us lessons for the future.

And remember, patience is something that you admire in the driver behind you and usually scorn in the one ahead!

Frank Weston – Editor of Vital Ipswich