IPSWICH TOWN legend Mick Mills revealed he would never turn down a job offer at the club, no matter how minor the position was.

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Former Stoke and Colchester boss, Mills, has not had a management role since being joint-caretaker of Birmingham City, 12 years ago.

However, several Blues fans have put his name forward for a footballing role at the club, along with other former Town legends such as Terry Butcher and Paul Mariner.

The 63-year-old made 591 appearances for the club during a glittering era in which Town won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup but while the club is dear to his heart, the former Ipswich and England skipper stressed he was not searching for a role at the Championship club either.

“I like the club very much and sometimes I feel like I have got something to offer,” he said.

“If there was a role available, no matter how minor it was, then I would be interested in working with whoever was ultimately chosen to replace Paul Jewell.

“I would never turn down a job offer at Ipswich Town but on the same front, I am not going in search of one either.”

Mills has been a regular observer of Town’s fortunes this season, as a pundit for BBC Radio Suffolk, and while he appreciates the club is in a precarious predicament, the former defender has urged owner Marcus Evans and chief executive Simon Clegg not to make a rash decision when appointing Jewell’s successor.

Rock-bottom Town host fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, in the Championship, on Saturday and Jewell’s assistant, Chris Hutchings, is expected to take temporary charge.

“Chris Hutchings is a decent man and a good coach who has also been a manager,” Mills added.

“The club is in decent hands and we can take our time, so let’s open the doors and offer the job to the nation.

“Let’s find out who is available and who is interested in the job. There may be one or two people that we have never heard of but we must not miss out on anyone if they are the right person.

“The last two occasions, the club appointed a new manager within hours of the previous one leaving, and I think that was a little bit hasty.

“If it takes two or three weeks, then so be it. I would rather the process take two or three weeks and the club appoint the right manager rather than two or three days and the club make a wrong decision.”

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8 comments

  • It may be a bit risky because Mick has struggled at managerial level before but if not Burley then why not?

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    FRANK WESTON

    Thursday, October 25, 2012

  • It may be a bit risky because Mick has struggled at managerial level before but if not Burley then why not!

    Report this comment

    FRANK WESTON

    Thursday, October 25, 2012

  • Says Mick Mills, Chris Hutchings is a decent man, a good coach and has been a manager. As a manager he was sacked by Walsall Good start!!!!! He is also the coach brought in by PJ and has overseen the shambolic way the team capitulates under pressure, a team that cannot defend or score more than one goal per game. Not very good CV there and that applies to several of the coaching staff. Whoever is appointed as manager will, I hope, clear the decks and bring in his own coaches and I personally wish the successful candidate the best of luck working under our present CEO Clegg and the invisible owner !!!!!!!

    Report this comment

    Brian Betts

    Thursday, October 25, 2012

  • I should think with 34 or so applicants to sort through they are almost bound to pick the wrong one again, lets just hope we can score more than 1 goal and dont concede in the last 5 mins for the next few games at least

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    victorviking

    Wednesday, October 24, 2012

  • Look,who you want and who we get are two separate things.Although at some point I would like to see a young manager here what we need at the present time due to our dire situation is a man who commands respect and has an experienced head on his shoulders.Owen Coyle and mick mcCarthy are two that come to mind.I think H R. Would command too much cash although he could maybe steady the ship short term.Lets just hope M E.does not rush into appointing anybody to quickly and looks at the field as I'm sure there could be somebody out there we are not aware of.So now let's get behind the lads this Saturday and just hope we can get three points.We have got what most of us wanted so COYB.

    Report this comment

    brisie58

    Wednesday, October 24, 2012

  • I think tactically Mick would be a great choice.

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    Metal head

    Wednesday, October 24, 2012

  • I think tactically Mick would be a great choice.

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    Metal head

    Wednesday, October 24, 2012

  • Mick's right. The decision to appoint the next Manager is crucial. Not only does he have to get the respect of those that are currently playing, but he may have to tell a few home truths to those not performing. I would hazard a guess that the group of players we have now and what we have in 6 months time will look totally different. When a new Manager comes in, quite often there is a sudden improvement, due to players wanting to jmpress. But the new Manager must not be fooled. These are the players that have let PJ down. Whilst PJ's tactics and constant switching of positions and personnel didn't exactly help, it still remains that a lot of them never came up with the goods. The new man must decide on his strategy , get them playing as a team and not 11 individuals, get in permanent players and get a few decent youths coming through. I have never really been a Mick McCarthy fan, but he does seem the type that we need. We have already tried young up and coming Managers, Burley, Magilton and Keane to varying effectiveness. I think the job is possibly a step too far for a young Manager. We need a Joe Royle type, who knows the game inside out, is well respected and has plenty of contacts and is persuasive enough to get the players in against competition from other clubs.

    Report this comment

    whymarkmariner

    Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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