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.

Photo: Action Images

RobITFC added 20:53 - May 18 Assume Harry is to do with this!
5

Cloddyseedbed added 20:55 - May 18 No thanks.
8

wkj added 20:56 - May 18 The sound of many blue bubbles are now bursting
0

12th_Man added 20:56 - May 18 Not interested just get Ross in
26

afcfee added 20:57 - May 18 Can see Evans going for Lamps just because his name. At least we would get a couple good Chelsea loan players. You never know he might be the next best thing was a great player.
10

boltzak added 20:58 - May 18 My wife would like to see him as manager because she said he's a real hunk.
1

JETPower added 21:02 - May 18 Ross Ross Ross (or Hurst)
6

SpruceMoose added 21:05 - May 18 Say it ain't so!?
2

tractorboybig added 21:06 - May 18 evans is making this a farce.
-19

dannysigma added 21:06 - May 18 Roos or Hurst. Not interested in being a vanity project for a big name player. Didn't work out too well last time we went down that road. We are a big enough team to expect a manager with a proven track record.
16

not_a_witty_name added 21:07 - May 18 Please no.
7

BlueBlood90 added 21:07 - May 18 Ross or Hurst please.
16

muccletonjoe added 21:12 - May 18 Worst case scenario ..... Ross goes to Sunderland where after a slow start they manage to finish up in the top 2 and follow that with the championship title. We get Lampard and struggle in the bottom half of the table for most of the season before getting sucked into the relegation zone in April.
-4

howdonblue added 21:12 - May 18 Not for me thanks
10

Lightningboy added 21:12 - May 18 Oh jeeeeez...when will our bl00dy owner learn? Are we getting “Frank Lampard's Ipswich” printed on the badge as I type? Another media circus is definitely Not what's needed here. Marcus,stop being a total numpty and get the Jack Ross deal done & listen to the fans for once.
10

truckerblue added 21:13 - May 18 I hope not. Don't want him or uncle Harry anywhere near our club.
7

MrJase77 added 21:14 - May 18 Please no. I do not want a complete novice (manager) running my club.
4

gordon added 21:17 - May 18 Please, please, please no, Mr Evans. I know you don't understand why this would be awful, and they say you're a Chelsea fan as well so it must have been great for you to meet Frank, but please don't do this to us. Give that nice Mr Ross a call.
9

nineteenseventyeight added 21:20 - May 18 cant understand some comments on here, if you advertise a job you sift out the best applications and interview those chosen ones, then you choose the best candidate. Remember, Bobby Robson was sacked by Fulham before coming here
34

cressi added 21:24 - May 18 Depends what u want patience is virture Hurst was my choice great record everywhere his being. Ross great with the media fantastic in Scotland and now lampard intelligent bloke with good connections well done Evans.
29

sirburley added 21:25 - May 18 This ain't the worst name to be mentioned in the last month or so..give him an experienced assistant and I'm sure he'll be fine...don't understand all this hype for a Scottish championship manager...this could turn out to be the biggest anti climax ever and we'll end up with Holloway or Bryan Gunn!!!!
9

hadleighboyblue added 21:26 - May 18 A definite NO for me , no experience as a manager , good players don't necessarily make good managers . The media circus that would surround Lampard would be a distraction from the big job that is needed to rebuild this club , would he give up a lucrative TV pundit job and would Harry boy have some influence ...................PLEASE NO . Ross seems to tick all the boxes , just get him in before someone else goes for him and forget all these high profile candidates , we need someone to concentrate on building the club up again

5

tractorollson added 21:30 - May 18 Personally im not against him coming
8

Taricco_Fan added 21:35 - May 18 Evans; step away from the Redknapp.
14

deano85 added 21:35 - May 18 rangers seem keen with Gerrard, so why should we be ok with the idea of Lampard... the problem is we all he ross on our mind now, so anyone else just seems a compromise...
7

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