Having already signalled his intent to leave at the end of the season, Mick McCarthy quit as Ipswich boss four games early in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday night’s 1-0 victory over Barnsley.
A single headed goal from Jonas Knudsen saw the Tractor Boys rustle a narrow win but it wasn’t enough to keep their manager in situ, with Big Mick announcing in his post-match press conference that he’s quite simply had enough.
BREAKING NEWS | Following this evening’s victory over Barnsley, Mick McCarthy has left Ipswich Town Football Club with immediate effect. #itfc
More to follow… pic.twitter.com/Uu51YIonyl
— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) April 10, 2018
McCarthy was apparently perturbed by Portman Road’s reaction to his substitution of 19-year-old full-back Barry Cotter, who impressed on his senior debut for the Tractor Boys before being taken off shortly into the second half.
Fans applauded Cotter’s efforts and booed McCarthy’s decision to haul him off so early, though the latter explained he did so because the teenager was “knackered”.
I’ve signed him and played him. He [Cotter] is absolutely knackered, he needs to come off. The boy was absolutely brilliant.
According to East Anglia Daily Times writer Stuart Watson, McCarthy then quit in gruff fashion when, after three minutes of general discussion, a reporter asked him about the Cotter protestations:
That was disgraceful reaction [to the substitution] but I won’t have to listen to it again because that’s my last game, I’m out of here.
He then apparently banged his hands on the desk and marched out of the press room without so much as a goodbye, fare thee well or kiss my arse.
Oh Mick, you gloriously gruff old bugger. Promise us you’ll never change.