Ipswich Town

Mick McCarthy describes abusive Ipswich Town fans as "numbskulls"

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter | 29 March 2018

Outgoing Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy criticises the "numbskulls" among the Tractor Boys fanbase who have been giving him abuse at home games.

Mick McCarthy has hit out at the "numbskulls" among the Ipswich Town fanbase who have been giving him abuse at home games.

The 59-year-old confirmed earlier on Thursday that he would be leaving the Portman Road hotseat when his contract expires at the end of the season.

McCarthy met with Ipswich owner Marcus Evans on Wednesday, with the pair deciding that a change was "in the best interest for all parties".

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Championship match at Birmingham City, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss hit out at Blues supporters who he claimed had "ruined" home games this season.

Asked by BBC Sport if he had been given the respect he deserves for taking the club to the 2014-15 playoffs, McCarthy replied: "You'll have to ask the numbskulls who have been giving me the abuse. I think that's what they are, to be quite honest.

"It's not everybody and that comment is for the people who have been doing it and, I think, ruining games at Portman Road and making it a hard place to play. You will have to ask them and they probably don't give too many people respect, let alone the manager.

"Fiona, my wife, she said to me for ages 'Mick, why don't you just pack it in? Why would you be taking that kind of abuse'. But no chance, I was never going to pack it in and she knew that."

Ipswich are 10 points from the top six of the table, but 19 points clear of the relegation zone, with eight games to play.