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

mickeyjb added 16:59 - Oct 25 The right outcome. Like everyone nothing against Hurst but he has made a total Pigs Ear out of managing this club. His signings have left us in the sh!te as let's be fair not even Pep would turn this bunch into superstars. sir Bobby probably would have though!
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NeverGoingUp added 16:59 - Oct 25 I did tell everybody this on an earlier article today.
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nix290 added 17:00 - Oct 25 Only 6 months too late
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StokeHigh97 added 17:00 - Oct 25 He had to go to be honest: out of his depth: Is Lambert the answer it can't get worse! it will be a wait & see, be interesting to see who his assistant will be:
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timkatieadamitfc added 17:01 - Oct 25 Sad really it hasn't worked out, everyone was asking for a young up and coming manager and im sure wanted him to succeed and take our club forward. Having said that I do think this is correct decision as it doesn't look like he can turn it round. Best of luck in future PH, just think this was too big a jump too soon.
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Swn98 added 17:01 - Oct 25 Walton what makes you think thats not where wewill end up hurst in 5 months has ripped the guts out of our club Feel so so sorry for the person who is going to take over who ever it might be.
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nthstd added 17:02 - Oct 25 Good. Now play the U23 and bring back our own academy product. The relegation battle can start now.
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broseleyblue added 17:02 - Oct 25 So disappointed PH didn't work out but it clearly had to be done. If it is Lambert so be it; we just need to stay up. However it looks a tough job now for anyone without a decent goal scorer on the books. Looks like PH was a very expensive mistake which is going to take some years to sort out.
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gazzer1999 added 17:02 - Oct 25 Evans must really hate the supporters if he brings Lambert in.
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martin587 added 17:03 - Oct 25 Hate to see anybody loose there job,but it was the best for all parties.I wish him good luck for the future.I just hope his management team also leave.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 17:03 - Oct 25 In fairness to Lamber he did a great job up the road and given the circumstances Villa. He saved wolves and Stoke were gone when he took over so it could be genius but imagine scum If we go down with him? Eeek Contenterd Warburton Lambert Gorgeous George?? Sherwood ? (Impressed in summer interview or so we are told) Anyone else?
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ArnieM added 17:03 - Oct 25 Thank you Paul for your efforts and I am genuinely sorry it didn't work out for you . Good luck in your next job.
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prebbs007 added 17:03 - Oct 25 LAMBERT NORWICH SC&M N O !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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osseyseleven added 17:04 - Oct 25 LAMBERT !!!!!!!!!!!! Another catastrophy in the waiting.....EVANS is clueless , in our situation you wouldn't even consider a ex NORWICH Manager ........another cheap option , he has been sacked in his last 5 jobs.........you couldn't write this. EVANS has to go.one poor descion after another. Clueless , embarrassing..........LAMBERT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it. Must be someone else out their.

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tractorfromongar added 17:04 - Oct 25 Until this cretin of an owner goes our beloved ITFC is at best going to be an also ran. They guy has no idea and if anyone is out of his depth it is him. We need a chairman with character, with a love for the club, a reachable goal and the willingness to use the necessary resources to make this happen. Until then......
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pablo123 added 17:04 - Oct 25 Lambert !!!! Ffs nooooooo !!! Ex scum not welcome
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Lord_Mac added 17:04 - Oct 25 I'm sorry because I thought he was a good selection, But I was wrong. His biggest mistake was farming out our academy players and bringing in inferior players. Had he been here while playing our players, most would have backed him. God knows where we go from here. Burley/Butcher/Klug for me
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BlueandTruesince82 added 17:04 - Oct 25 You did never going up, what's your source saying about Lambert?
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scottyblue87 added 17:04 - Oct 25 ITFC moan about Mick, Moan about Hurst and now moaning about a potential move for Lambert before it has happened. Perhaps we can get behind this manager and try look to a bright future under a manager who is more than capable of sorting this problem out. Why does it matter he his ex Norwich. Move on and get behind the boys!
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happybeingblue added 17:05 - Oct 25 ahh i do feel sorry for paul hurst and a shame he has gone but i think it was looking ominous,seemed a decent chap, i would try and get mark warburton in now,do not like lambert or allardyce sinilar ilk of personality who would not be a good fit for itfc.
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blueboy1981 added 17:05 - Oct 25 .... the former had to happen - the latter - yuk! that sucks - could be another bobo by Evans, if correct.
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MickCuresInsomnia added 17:06 - Oct 25 I hope Lambert (Budgies to Town) becomes our version of Cloughie (Derby to Forest).......here's hoping 🚜💪
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chivy99 added 17:07 - Oct 25 I dont normally comment on these boards but I am staggered what has happened to the club over the last couple of years. 1. MM should not have been forced out the way was at the end of the season. He performed a small miracle getting us to the Play offs on the shoe string budget he was given. The football being played wasnt the most attractive, but its all we could do with that set of players. I know we needed a bit of a change, but MM should have been given a bit more respect. 2. We took a big gamble on Hurst and some select league 1 players. At the start of the campaign, I was excited by the changes and the prospect of a different style of play. We were unlucky at the start of the season with some of those results. I think Hurst should have been given more support to stick with his style of play (and probably 3 more games) Bowing to fan pressure on has now set the club back at least 5 years.

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blueboy1981 added 17:07 - Oct 25 ......... no doubt he asked his pal 'arry again for advice ..... !!!
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Eiffel78 added 17:08 - Oct 25 Really wanted him to work out, on paper he seemed to be the kind of young, up and coming manager we'd wanted to take us on to the next level. Initially unlucky, there were several games where we didn't get the results we deserved, but ultimately results don't lie and it's a decision that had to be made.
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