Danny Cowley and Paul Hurst in the mix for Ipswich Town job following Mick McCarthy exit

Mick McCarthy exited Ipswich Town in typical Mick McCarthy fashion on Tuesday night, as the Championship’s longest-serving gaffer brought to an end to his five-and-a-half-year tenure at Portman Road.

Last month McCarthy had stated that he would be leaving the Tractor Boys at the end of the season, but then fresh from leading his troops to victory over Barnsley on Tuesday, he announced “I’m out of here” in his post-match news conference, with his assistant Terry Connor also terminating his contract at the club.

McCarthy also revealed that a post-match departure had been agreed upon over the weekend:

“I spoke with Marcus at the weekend and we agreed that it was in the best interests for me, the players and the Club that I move on now.

“I said I would see the season out but it’s been a new experience and it’s not one I have been enjoying to be honest.

“I have continued to do my job to the best of my ability but there is something missing and I’m not comfortable with that.”

(Quote: www.itfc.co.uk)

MICK MCCARTHY at #itfc
81 - Different players signed
£3.3m - fees spent
£18.85m - fees received
56% - Signings made <10 starts
39 - Frees
29 - Loans
9 - £100k+ fees
8 - Signings scored 10+ goalshttps://t.co/xOm8kb2O9C

— Stuart Watson (@Stuart_Watson) April 11, 2018

As McCarthy was leaving in the summer anyway, the Next Ipswich Town Manager Market looks pretty much the same following his departure, with Danny Cowley, Tony Mowbray, Steve McClaren and Shefki Kuqi all still in the mix for the permanent post, while Shrewsbury boss Paul Hurst has been cut from 16/1 to 8/1.

Cowley, the 2/1 favourite, is very much for the Football League manager of the moment.

Over the weekend the 39-year-old led Lincoln City to their first ever major trophy after upsetting Hurst’s League One Shrewsbury in the Checkatrade Trophy final.

Cowley now has the chance to win back-to-back promotions with the Imps - the club won the National League last season - who are currently in 6th spot in League One with 1-2 games in hand on their play-off rivals.

Over the last few months Cowley has been the focus of reported interest from Barnsley, Southend and most recently Ipswich, but has continually reiterated his commitment to Lincoln, telling Lincolnshire Live over the weekend:

“It’s the nature of football that when players do well they get linked with clubs at higher levels. When a manager does well, it happens as well.

“The success has always come from being really focused and working relentlessly hard, day in, day out.

“I like winning so I’m not going to lose my focus and work ethic. I’m just going to stay really grounded and get the process right.”

PSG are set to decide between Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte.

However, the sudden availability of Mick McCarthy may have thrown a spanner in the works. pic.twitter.com/UT7oYOf546

— The Sack Race (@thesackrace) April 11, 2018