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

Wickwar_Blue added 22:42 - May 18 Lampard out
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eMeM added 22:46 - May 18 Why not? He knows how big club is run and I'm sure he would be better suited than other candidates to know what we lack to become Premier League side again. And if he fails at least we get extra media coverage.
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brian_a_mul added 22:49 - May 18 Not what we need right now. I think Lamps and his wife had a baby this week, sleepless nights and a decent commute if he gets this. Maybe thats his plan afterall to keep himself away from smelly nappies :)
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Plums added 22:54 - May 18 Frank would be an ideal replacement for Jack Ross at St Mirren. Go and earn your stripes son.
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Suffolkboy added 22:54 - May 18 Already some pretty unintelligent banter and poor reasoning here ; ME is demonstrably able and possessed of wit !He's nobody 's fool and most certainly capable of coming to the right conclusion and selecting his MAN for the job . Seems to me we've at least got two able intelligent applicants ,with excellent character cv's and may yet have a third in the Shrewsbury manager . Let's believe ME will get the right man to do the job,BUT whoever is selected ,please let us make him welcome and help he and the talented group of players to truly achieve next season , without the ill informed mouthy rubbish and behaviour which tarnished the cherished name of ITFC last year ! MM was a really good manager of men , and I guess JR and FL would be too !

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horsehollerer added 22:55 - May 18 Frank is intelligent, articulate, competitive and by all accounts a very nice, humble bloke. He just lacks management experience. Still, he'd be my third choice behind Hurst/Ross tbh. I don't care what the media call us, I just want us to play good football and compete in this league.
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legal_blue added 23:09 - May 18 Lampard would be the perfect choice . . . For St. Mirren or Shrewsbury!
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SonOfSpock added 23:10 - May 18 How about Lampard as Manager and the Thaiwan manager as head coach. The latter has all the top level coaching credentials whilst the former has the kudos and pulling power.
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MickMillsTash added 23:11 - May 18 Wow Speaks as well as anyone on TV about the game- I'm always impressed and learn from him Would command massive respect from the players and initially would get an extra 10% from them With money could sign most players he wanted and would surely only come if there was money available. As long as he does not get Dennis Wise as his number 2 I'm in
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Bert added 23:15 - May 18 He would be on my list to talk to. Of all the ex players being linked, Lampard has great football experience and connections. Evans is conducting himself as he should. It's not his fault that this is being played out in public. Ross, Hurst and Lampard are all worth a punt.
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Jonnosdreadlocks added 23:21 - May 18 Just give the job to Burley and Butch. We dont need another high profile unproven player like Keane nor do we need another lower league John Duncan type like Ross. GB/TB know the club, connect with the fans and right now thats what we need!
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BrazilItAint added 00:15 - May 19 Get him in now. Has loads of experience and a World Class midfield player. Intelligent and articulate man. All of our talented youngsters are in midfield, how could his experience not help Dozzer, Bishop, Huws and Downes. Would provide a media circus but that's what Evans want but think of the talent he could bring in. Just wait for this to happen...
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harlingblue added 04:33 - May 19 Hi profile catch for the club, but so was Keane, and what a mess he made of it. If Lampard comes with no baggage, prepared to work with our current U23 coaches, get Wright in as goalkeeping coach, and sort our midfield out, that would be great, if not Ross is the one I am are rooting for.
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mathiemagic added 05:40 - May 19 I liked FL as player but think he is not the man for the job. I would happily see him as number 2 to Ross or Hurst. Dont quite understand the negativity though, If you apply for a job then surely no one can complain if you get an interview?. No one can deny however that if he was involved in some way or other the name and his dads reputation could not harm with the connections they have. Interesting times.

2

DurhamTownFan added 06:45 - May 19 Granted good players don't always make good managers but at least this one is intelligent and think s about the game. For me, not enough thought goes into assessing does a retired player actually know his own mind and have his own ideas and do you genuinely trust him? Southgate is a good example of that. This wouldn't be the worst appointment in my opinion. But if it did go wrong, we'd be scratching around a bit mid season and probably worse off than we are now.

3

Kropotkin123 added 06:45 - May 19 no thanks.
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Europablue added 06:58 - May 19 Lampard is a totally different prospect than Keane. You can just tell from his demeanour that he would have the right attitude. I'm totally fine with him having an interview, in fact it's necessary for Town to be considering our options as obviously Ross is not a done deal. We could very easily be turned down by both Ross and Hurst. Ross is still my number one choice, then Hurst. Lampard with Burley may be a good combination. That would be a top choice for the also rans.

6

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:02 - May 19 Wow! It's been fun to speculate for a while, but I think most of us will now be glad when the decision is made and we can get behind whoever it is that occupies the honorable position of manager of ITFC. ME is doing what he said he would - spreading the net wide - but I really don't envy his task. How do you compare Ross and Lampard, just for starters, disregarding for a moment all the options the 64 other candidates mentioned bring to the table? R & L each have very different qualities and experiences, and each have some potential downsides. While I like the "homely" feel Ross might bring to the club, I can also see that Lampard would have a completely different network to draw on (which might well appeal to ME). Ross has done impressively well in a minor Scottish club, but will that translate into the Championship? Lampard is articulate, serious and intelligent, but is "Lampard's Ipswich" what we fans really want to read in the media, and how long would he stay if successful? Etc. etc. The questions pile up and even if ME is working from a very clearly defined set of criteria that must be fulfilled, I wouldn't want to change places with him at the moment. But I really hope he gets it right. COYB!

4

SheptonMalletBlue added 07:16 - May 19 No thanks. Part of the Redknapp brigade!!!!! Jack Ross for me.
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Europablue added 07:23 - May 19 Ideally we want a long term appointment, but I don't really care if we are a stepping stone for the new manager if that means we get promoted to the Premier League and therefore become a more attractive proposition for both players and managers.
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Spanishblueblood added 07:26 - May 19 You CAN'T compare Lampard to Keane! Its like chalk and cheese, Frank is an articulate, well respected, intelligent young man who would be a great asset to our club and I would love to see him help make our club great again! Its time to realise....we are not a big name club these days and we would be lucky to get someone like Frank in. Yes, if successful he would be poached by a larger club and would use us as a stepping stone but that would be the case with whoever comes in!

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mib added 07:26 - May 19 Suffolk Blue, Evans is intelligent? Did he not employ both Keane and McCarthy!!!!
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trncbluearmy added 07:38 - May 19 Surprised Lampard got a second interview,absolutely no managerial experience, has not even got all his coaching badges. Possibly a good appointment for St.Mirren
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Rainman added 07:45 - May 19 For me Lampard needs to prove himself elsewhere before getting a job like ITFC. Too big a risk & we don't need the fanfare/ circus that this would bring. Appoiint Jack Ross.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 07:55 - May 19 Its encouraging that we are attracting very high calibre applicants. ME is taking this very seriously, and I read that as a sign that he is prepared to invest more, perhpas he has realised that you cant get promoted without decent investment. Would prefer Ross or Hurst, Lampard is higher risk as he is unproven but we could do a lot worse. ME is actually going up somewhat in my estimation.

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