Ipswich Town legend Kevin Beattie is certain that the Tractor Boys will not be relegated after speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times.
The Suffolk side finished in their lowest position in 58 years after a 16th place Championship finish, and the Club’s disappointing form last season has led to a decrease in season ticket sales by around 2000 ahead of their 16th successive season in the Championship.
The former England international still lives in Ipswich and, despite being in regular contact with Town supporters, he feels Mick McCarthy should stay at the helm.
“I speak to fans all the time and so many of them say to me ‘get rid of Mick’ and my answer to them is always ‘no way’.
“He saved us from relegation and then oversaw finishes of ninth, sixth and seventh. People have been quick to forget that.
“I understand the fans’ frustrations, I really do, because I’m one of them. But who else are we going to get that’s better? Mick is not a guy who will walk away from a challenge and I like that. I’d trust him with my life. Fans may not agree with me, but that’s how I feel.”
Beattie then supposedly laughed when he was told that SkyBet have Ipswich as second-favourites for relegation.
“I’m not saying we’re too big of a club to go down, because we’ve seen what’s happened to Blackburn and Coventry and others, but I honest think we’re just too good to be relegated.
“We were never going to go down last season and there’s now way, no way at all, we will go down next season.
“Every season is a blank page and I always start off believing we can finish in the top six. Money isn’t everything. You have to keep the faith.”
