Ipswich Town: Mick McCarthy's two years marked by 'progress'

Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy believes the club have improved during his two years in charge.

The Portman Road side were bottom of the Championship when McCarthy took over from Paul Jewell 24 months ago, and are now chasing a play-off spot.

"We made progress from the first six months I was here," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"And last season we made progress and we have continued to do that with the start that we've made."

McCarthy will celebrate two years in charge of the Suffolk side when they travel to Blackpool on Saturday.

In that time he was won 38 of his 98 games at the helm and, after steering Town away from relegation in his first campaign, he went on to miss out on the play-offs by just four points in his second season.

He is now the first manager to have reached the two years landmark working under owner Marcus Evans since the businessman bought the club in 2007.

"When I walked into the club we were rock bottom," said former Wolves boss McCarthy.

"I saw we had some decent players and a fair team spirit. Let us hope we can keep making progress and finish higher than we did last year.

"If somebody would have asked me 'would you be happy with the where you are now?' We're five points off the top - I'd say 'yes'.

"But because of the points we've lost in recent weeks I'm not happy."