TWTD understands former England skipper Frank Lampard was interviewed for the vacant Town manager’s job earlier today. The 39-year-old is now the second-favourite to take charge at Portman Road.
Rumours that Lampard would be interested in becoming the Blues boss circulated soon after it was announced former manager Mick McCarthy would be moving on this summer, but his name had been mentioned less frequently in connection with the role more recently.
It’s understood today was the second time the Chelsea legend has met with Marcus Evans and it’s believed he impressed the Blues owner.
Lampard, who started his career with West Ham and also represented Manchester City and New York City in a glittering playing career, recently talked about his ambitions to get into management.
"I’m doing my coaching badges at the moment. I've spent a lot of time at Chelsea this year, gaining hours of experience," he said.
"I've already managed to get my A Licence in coaching. So yes, with the right opportunity and right timing for me, I'd really take a very close look at it.”
It’s likely Lampard, who won 106 England caps, scoring 29 goals, would appoint an experienced assistant to work alongside him in his first management role, as his former England team-mate Steven Gerrard has done at Rangers where Gary McAllister is his deputy.
Evans has interviewed a number of candidates over the last fortnight with St Mirren boss Jack Ross also having met with the Blues’ owner twice and TWTD understands the 41-year-old still remains the front runner for the job.
Another of Lampard’s England team-mates, Scott Parker, now Tottenham’s U18s coach, is also among those to have been spoken to, along with former Spurs and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood and ex-Reading manager Jaap Stam.
Shrewsbury manager Paul Hurst is also understood to be someone Evans is keen to talk to about the vacancy but the Blues have made no formal approach to the Shropshire side and the former Ilkeston, Boston and Grimsby boss won’t be in a position to speak to Town until after the League One play-off final a week on Sunday.
Ross remains the favourite to take over at Portman Road at 3-1 odds-on with Bet Victor, but Lampard has now moved ahead of Hurst and is now at 3-1 with the Shrews manager at 4-1.