Mick McCarthy has played down the idea that he might come to the rescue of some of his former Wolves players if, as is almost certain, the club is relegated to League One this afternoon.
The former Republic of Ireland boss has steered Ipswich Town to mid-table safely in the Championship but there was no particular sense yesterday that he’d be recruiting the likes of Kevin Doyle, Stephen Ward or Stephen Hunt to help the team push on.
"People talk about the quality in their squad, but they're getting relegated by the looks of things," he said. "Yes, they've got good players, but that doesn't mean I'll go tripping back there to sign them. Who's to know what they are going to cost and what wages they are on anyway? I'm not thinking that's my fishing ground at all."
His boots
Steve Carr has confirmed his retirement from the game after an almost 20-year career in England with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Birmingham City.
It is the second time the Dubliner has announced he was hanging up his boots with the 36-year-old having apparently called it a day back in December 2008 when he struggled to get a club after leaving St James’ Park only to be persuaded to join Birmingham the following February, initially on a one-month deal.
Since then, Carr has played almost 100 first team games and captained the team to victory over Arsenal in a League Cup final but he recently turned down the opportunity to stay at the club in a coaching role, suggesting that he and his family will be moving to Spain where he owns a chain of bar/restaurants.
“I am going on 37 and now is the time to bow out,” says Carr. “I felt okay in pre-season but my knee just crumbled away. Three operations in 18 months basically told me it had had enough. It just wasn’t meant to be in the end. The fans have been brilliant with me since I came and I have had a great relationship with them. I will never forget that day lifting the cup. It was a big, big thing for me.”
Carr played 44 games for the Republic of Ireland but missed the 2002 World Cup through injury.
Unfair dismissals
Dave O'Leary has won his long-running unfair dismissals action against Dubai club Al Ahli with a Fifa panel awarding him just short of €4 million, the balance of the money he was due under the terms of his three-year deal.
O’Leary was only with the club for eight months during which time the team won 6 out of 15 league games. In April 2011 the club dismissed him and the former Leeds United and Aston Villa boss sought compensation.
The club subsequently disputed the circumstances of his departure and claimed in its submission to Fifa’s Players’ Status Committee that he had actually abandoned his post. This was dismissed at the hearing and O’Leary was awarded the full amount of his claim.
Another former Ireland international, John Sheridan, has agreed a three-year deal to manage Plymouth Argyle after guiding them to safety in League Two having taken over when the club was languishing in the relegation zone.
“I am very, very pleased and very happy to get it all sorted out,” he said. “Obviously, now the hard work starts.”
