Daniel Farke joked on Thursday Mick McCarthy's pending exit could be bad for his points haul - but the Norwich City chief is deadly serious about finishing above Ipswich Town this season.

McCarthy will call time on his Portman Road career at the end of the campaign, with no wins from eight derby tussles.

Farker, however, is every bit as determined to ensure the Canaries' fans retain the bragging rights from a higher league finish with both clubs level on points ahead of the Easter programme.

'I could joke a bit and say I am a little bit sad at this news because I got four points against Mick and was unbeaten against Ipswich,' he said. 'It might be a little bit different in the next game.

'Listen, I have said before I am full of respect for his work and his career and what he has done at Ipswich. It was not easy for him. They had a brilliant start to the season and were in good shape. Then perhaps they were not able to maintain these performances.

'If there is a decision to go another way that is not for me to judge. All I can say is I enjoyed spending time in his company and I wish him all the best for the future.

'Yes, to finish above Ipswich is a target.

'I will not be testing things for the next season by bringing the groundsman on the pitch or 15-year-old lads. I will pick hopefully the best team we can to be successful.

'We want to climb the table as far as we can and certainly more points than Ipswich.'

MORE: Have your say on our Pinkun forum

Town skipper Luke Chambers, who looked to have ended the curse at Carrow Road last month before Timm Klose's dramatic stoppage time equaliser, revealed just hours after McCarthy's summer departure was confirmed on Thursday morning the Blues' boss had set his squad one final challenge.

'He called a meeting and called us into the dressing room,' said the defender. 'We obviously knew something was going on.

'There has obviously been a lot of talk lately, a lot of voices have been heard, a lot of noise had been made.

'We knew it had to happen sooner or later, to know which way we were going as a club.

'The decision has been made, the gaffer has made no secret of the fact he wants to finish above those guys up the road so we'll be doing everything we can to finish as high as we can.'