Adam Webster insists the Ipswich Town players ‘do not have their flip flops on’ as they play for their futures in the wake of news of Mick McCarthy’s pending departure.

The Blues boss announced last Thursday that his five-and-half-year reign at Portman Road will come to an end at the end of the campaign, with six matches remaining following Saturday’s loss at Birmingham and the entertaining Monday draw with Millwall.

Webster insisted there is no chance of he and his team-mates simply downing tools as they try to give their outgoing boss a good send-off and bid to impress any potential replacements at the same time.

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“Not at all,” Webster said, when asked if motivation is an issue during the final weeks of McCarthy’s tenure. “We know the gaffer is going now. There are going to be people watching our games for who is going to take over.

“We are playing for our futures. If we put our flip flops on now, we might not be here next year. None of us are doing that. We are remaining as professional as we can, finish as high as we can and do our best for the manager coming in next season so he can see what we are capable of.

“Everyone is gutted about it (McCarthy leaving). He has brought everyone here to the club so everyone wanted him to stay.

“When he told us all it wasn’t necessarily a massive shock but when you hear it come out of his mouth it’s a different thing.

“He has shown great faith in me and I’ve loved working with him. It’s gutting that he is leaving.

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“But we can’t change that now and we’ve got to take it game by game.

“He has done an unbelievable job here so we want to finish it right for him and win every game.”

McCarthy has insisted he is far from done in football and will soon be on the lookout for his next opportunity, with Webster sure the outgoing boss has another Championship promotion in him to add to the ones he achieved with Sunderland and then Wolves.

“Definitely, without a doubt,” he said.

“He has still got that drive and hunger about him. He is a winner at the end of the day and I’m sure whoever is lucky enough to get him, will reap the rewards.”