Ex-Town boss Paul Hurst says his sacking by the Blues makes him more determined to be a success elsewhere in the future, while it’s reported that new manager Paul Lambert was lured to Portman Road by a £10 million war chest.
Hurst’s 149-day Town reign was brought to a close at 3.30pm on Thursday via a 10-minute phone call from owner Marcus Evans. Assistant manager Chris Doig, fitness coach Nathan Winder and physio Chris Skitt also left the club.
"This only makes me more determined to be a success in the future,” Hurst told The Sun on Sunday. "Looking back now there are things I would probably change but I have no regrets.
"And now it’s time for me to sit by the phone again and hope that I get a different kind of call.
"When I get it I will be ready and I aim to make sure the experience with Ipswich will only make me better at my job.”
The 44-year-old added: "I don’t feel like I am damaged goods now. Sometimes you have to take a step backwards to go forwards and I have complete belief that I will become a top manager.”
We understand Town will pay Hurst a low six-figure sum to settle his contract, which was due to run until 2021.
Meanwhile, the The Sun on Sunday claims new boss Lambert, who was appointed yesterday on a deal also until 2021, was tempted to take the job at Portman Road by a ÂŁ10 million January war chest.
While a sum of that size would be a huge surprise given Town’s approach in recent seasons, and owner Evans's much-vaunted Five-Point Plan, Lambert will certainly have some cash to spend during the transfer window as the bottom-of-the-table Blues look to avoid relegation to the third tier for the first time in 62 years.
Lambert, 49, is meeting the players and coaching staff at Playford Road for the first time today having watched yesterday’s dismal 3-0 defeat at Millwall along with his new coaching team, from left to right, first-team coach Matt Gill, assistant manager Stuart Taylor, Lambert and fitness coach Jim Henry. He will be unveiled to the media on Tuesday.