Town have sacked manager Paul Hurst after less than five months in charge with former Norwich boss Paul Lambert close to taking over.

Owner Marcus Evans is understood to have wielded the axe this afternoon following last night’s 2-0 defeat at Leeds with the players believed to have been called to the training ground to be told the news.

Evans is understood to have sounded out a number of experienced Championship managers to take over from Hurst as he looks to avoid a damaging and costly relegation to League One.

TWTD can confirm the Daily Mirror's earlier report that former Norwich, Aston Villa and Colchester manager Lambert could be confirmed as boss prior to Saturday’s trip to Millwall, although Bryan Klug has returned to his caretaker-manager role in the meantime.

Hurst was only appointed Town boss on May 30th and his tenure - only the 16th since the club turned professional - at 149 days is the shortest in the Blues' history.

Town won only once during his time in charge, at Swansea prior to the international break, with his overall record in all competitions reading played 15, won one, drawn seven, lost seven. They sit bottom of the Championship.

Rumours of training ground discontent have been rife for some weeks, while Hurst's summer recruitment, largely players who impressed him while working in the lower leagues while a number of more experienced players departed, is widely viewed as a significant factor behind the current position.

Hurst's departure appeared only a matter of time with the win at Swansea having perhaps bought him a little time. However, Saturday's dismal performance the 2-0 home defeat to QPR was probably the final straw.

Lambert, 49, was last in a job earlier this year, taking charge of Stoke City in January but leaving in May following their relegation to the Championship.

Previously he was in charge at Wolves, Blackburn and Villa, but is most remembered in East Anglia for his stint in charge at Norwich between 2009 and 2012 during which he took them from League One to the Premier League.

The Scot had joined the Canaries from Colchester United where he spent just under a year. The U's had defeated Norwich 7-1 on the opening day of 2009/10.

He started his managerial career at Livingston and Wycombe having played in midfield for St Mirren, Motherwell, Borussia Dortmund - with whom he won the Champions League - Celtic and Livingston as well as winning 40 caps for Scotland.

Photo: Action Images

Zico added 16:52 - Oct 25 I'm glad he has gone, never stood a chance of turning this around, completely out of his depth
14

Currie10 added 16:52 - Oct 25 If confirmed my avatar can be changed :) THANK GOD.
0

boroughblue added 16:52 - Oct 25 WHAT?!?!??
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OwainG1992 added 16:52 - Oct 25 Jesus Christ. Not gonna lie this a shock. Best of luck to Hurst whatever he does next always seemed a decent bloke.
17

Lightningboy added 16:52 - Oct 25 Lambert???! Out of the pot & into the fire..... Evans just doesn't get it,does he? 🙈
8

BlueandTruesince82 added 16:53 - Oct 25 Lambert!?! Hmmmm But thank God. Had to happen. Been refreshing all day for this. Weather anyone can make lemonade out of these lemmons I don't know
2

JackSted added 16:53 - Oct 25 Gutted for Hurst but it had to be done
23

shoopdelang added 16:53 - Oct 25 Lambert is the best out of work manager we can get I believe. The sorry position we are in we need to forget the fact he's an ex budgie and look at his managerial credentials. Stoke should never have sacked him they were as good as down when he took charge. Good riddance Hurst
2

ElGuaje4 added 16:53 - Oct 25 Real shame things haven't worked out for Hurst. Liked the guy a lot and wish him all the best for the future.
31

Nuggets added 16:53 - Oct 25 Correct decision, but PAUL LAMBERT?! Jesus wept, we're going down.
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chunkymunky added 16:54 - Oct 25 WOW! Not sure about Lambert as a replacement but glad its been addressed at this early stage, no fight & no desire in that team from what I have seen this season, at team of League 1 players playing out of their depth.
7

cornishnick added 16:55 - Oct 25 I am genuinely sad to see him go, seems an likeable, honest bloke. Thought he might have been given until the Preston game, but doesn't come as much of a surprise. brave new era and different way of doing things didn't last long, did it? Problem with Lambert is if things don't turn around quickly, fans will swiftly get on his back because of his Naaridge connections. Will ultimately end in tears.

8

BlueBlood90 added 16:55 - Oct 25 I don't like to glee at someone losing their job and something that hasn't worked out well for the club, but common sense has prevailed. He had to go. I really can't get behind the though of Paul Lambert though. We need someone who we can all get behind. I have no preference as to who gets the job. I just want someone with a bit of fight and passion as Hurst was so void of that.

16

Suffolk_n_Good added 16:55 - Oct 25 Only a matter of time, Hurst was a dead man walking, however always came across as a top bloke, & I wish him well in the future.
20

SamWhiteUK added 16:55 - Oct 25 Doig staying? Not sure about Lambert also, but that's just because i don't like him! We'll see
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backwiththeboysagain added 16:56 - Oct 25 The most incompetent manager we've had. Good riddance
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Skip73 added 16:56 - Oct 25 Thank God for that. I get the impression that whoever we get won't be good enough for some on here.
13

HALLSJ66 added 16:56 - Oct 25 Pleased to hear, Stoke fans I know much preferred Lambert to Rowett
2

WaltonBlueNaze added 16:57 - Oct 25 Well done ME - PH out of your depth, back to League 1 where u belong!
-6

vanmunt added 16:58 - Oct 25 Just wasn't the right man for the job in the end, I for one was happy when he was appointed. I don't see how you can become a bad manager overnight but things were certainly getting worse by the game.
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Northstandveteran added 16:58 - Oct 25 Good luck for the future Paul Hurst. Perhaps M.E is as worried as the fans and does have some, well, perhaps not ambition but strong concerns about being relegated. Let's hope there's a decent management team out there that will willingly take this mess on!
6

muccletonjoe added 16:58 - Oct 25 Lambert - Really ?!
6

jutever added 16:58 - Oct 25 A sad day.
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jutever added 16:58 - Oct 25 A sad day.
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Nick_Blue11 added 16:59 - Oct 25 Needed to happen but It will still take a miracle worker to keep us up with this squad this year. We need to get rid of Evans...yes he puts in 6 million quid a year but every year we drop further down the league as more money enters the league its obvious that we cant compete. He has to sell up otherwise we're as good as relegation fooder for many years to come (provided we stay up this year!)

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