Ward: There were a few emotional words in there

Although they could no longer help him, Mick McCarthy’s last words to his Irish players at Wolves aimed to inspire.

As the news filtered through at Wolves’ training ground yesterday morning that their manager had been sacked, a group of players cametogether to thank the man who’d given many of them their shot at the big time.

McCarthy was in a sombre mood, and took time to speak to a few players alone.