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

BlueandTruesince82 added 18:32 - Oct 25 Stuart Watson seems to have Lambert as good as in the dugout already
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brendenward35 added 18:34 - Oct 25 Let's think about this Paul Jewell Paul Hurst Paul Lambert Might be 3rd time lucky
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LWNR2013 added 18:41 - Oct 25 PAul McCartney ....
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Northstandveteran added 18:54 - Oct 25 Paul Daniels. We need a magician to get out of this mess.
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Northstandveteran added 18:55 - Oct 25 Paul Theotherone?
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leagueonescum added 18:58 - Oct 25 Paper and cracks come to mind. We need a bloody good clear out, starting from the very top. Not sure about Lambert....tbc
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Nobbysnuts added 18:59 - Oct 25 Good riddance. Thanks for nothing Paul. Now let's get the right man this time. I do believe with the right appointment this team can be turned around with a few tweeks here and there. It's not going to be pretty as it's purely about avoiding relegation now and nothing else. It was right to get rid now to give someone else a fighting chance of saving us. Another 3 games as some have suggested and it could of been to late.

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Davidoff added 18:59 - Oct 25 Mick Lambert. Great Choice................Oh Sorry. PAUL Lambert! Nah!
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Davidoff added 18:59 - Oct 25 Mick Lambert. Great Choice................Oh Sorry. PAUL Lambert! Nah!
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LegendofthePhoenix added 19:05 - Oct 25 Thank God he's gone, it was doing no one any good. Will get behind Lambert if it's him. Couldnt care less about the fact that he once managed the budgies.
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alfromcol added 19:09 - Oct 25 If Lambert can get the budgies into the Premiership then his task here must be much easier? Too many keyboard Managers on here. The Internet has a lot to answer for!
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Pencilpete added 19:10 - Oct 25 The Norwich connection with Lambert doesn't bother me, what bothers me is the fact that since he left them he's been a disaster at Villa, Blackburn and Stoke. I'd rather we got Steve Bruce in
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alfromcol added 19:16 - Oct 25 Just seen the earlier posts. What about Pope Paul now that could get us out of a mess, or maybe not!
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MickMillsTash added 19:18 - Oct 25 David moyes?
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Swn98 added 19:26 - Oct 25 Memo to new manager read the news site of TWTD Whatever certain people on here say!!!!..... do the opposite and you could have a successful time.
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norfolkbluey added 19:29 - Oct 25 I don't care if he did manage the Canaries. I always thought he managed them well and he was always a shrewd tactician. I just hope he does us proud because things couldn't get much worse than now. He will need all us loyal fans backing with the squad he has inherited. I don't think I've seen the like for many years. If he gets us out of the s**t he will get my backing. I bear him no grudges and wish him every success. He did a brilliant job of trying to keep Stoke up with very few resources. GIVE HIM YOUR BACKING AND DON'T BLAME HIM IF IT TAKES HIM A COUPLE OF GAMES TO GET TO KNOW THE SQUADS STRENGTHS IF ANY> Good luck Paul Lambert you'll need it with what you have inherited!

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Nobbysnuts added 19:29 - Oct 25 Do i think we will avoid relegation now? It's 50-50 to be honest. Do i think we would of avoided relegation under ph? 100% no. I think he lost the dressing room and that was the final straw. Notice how none of the players acknowledged him after the final whistle last nite? Now let's get behind the team and try and save this great club. Remember we are the 12th man.
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78ShadesOfBlue added 19:34 - Oct 25 Good. Hurst was useless!
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markyatetractor added 19:38 - Oct 25 What about Burley,McGreal and Stewart to get us out of this mess? give them till the end of the season but McGreal is doing Ok as is stewart,but just a thought?
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Roystontown added 19:50 - Oct 25 Let's just all get ourselves down to Millwall on Saturday and back the boys..Had a ticket for a while and unlike some looking forward not back. Fill the bars around London Bridge and show some support
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1RWR added 20:02 - Oct 25 Has anyone thought, just for a moment, that Lambert maybe the only manager who's willing to put his head on the line? Let's be honest, how many people are willing to buy an old car down on its suspension, smoking like a chimney, rattling like a good 'un? Not many I bet ya! We're not attractive as a club anymore, perhaps Lambert is "the best we can get". I hate the scum just like any other ITFC fan, but funnily enough, Lambert as our manager being ex-scum doesn't bother me one bit. Whoever it is, WHOEVER, just needs our support!

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Bluesparx added 20:10 - Oct 25 Don't suppose there's any chance of Evans getting ambitious and going for a manager who is not out of a job?....Maurice Stein?
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Bildestoned added 20:11 - Oct 25 Oh for Gawd's sake! Enough of this nonsense about Lambert and Naaaridge! Are there really some on this 'ere forum who'd rather have a potentially inferior manager As Long As He Don't Come From Naaaridge?? Our priority is staying up and getting ahead of The Filth. Believe! Support!
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wayway added 20:32 - Oct 25 It would not matter one jot if they appointed Klopp, Guardiola and Zidane as a managerial threesome, without proper investment they would also fail EVANS OUT NOW
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wayway added 20:45 - Oct 25 I will make a prediction, Paul Hurst will get another job in Div 1 or 2, work with a committed chairman who is a true fan of the club and not some absent faceless crook, get them promoted and then will be head hunted by much bigger clubs than us
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