Town have confirmed the appointment of Paul Lambert as manager, the 49-year-old having agreed a deal to 2021.

The new boss will watch today's game at Millwall from the stands and we understand will meet the players and coaching staff at Playford Road on Sunday. A press conference is pencilled in for Tuesday.

Lambert's backroom staff are his Stoke assistant manager Stuart Taylor and fitness coach Jim Henry, as previously reported by TWTD, along with first-team coach Matt Gill, who has been working as Norwich City’s U23s coach.

“I am delighted that Paul has agreed to become manager of Ipswich Town,” Town owner Marcus Evans told the club site.

“He made it clear from our first conversation that he would relish the opportunity to come here.

“He is a very knowledgeable manager who has vast experience of the Championship as well as working for a number of years in the Premier League.

“In his time at Aston Villa he showed he could work and develop young players and his teams have always looked to play exciting football and those attributes fit our ethos here.

“He obviously enjoyed a lot of success at our local rivals and the aim for Paul and everyone at the club is to see that repeated here - and bettered!

“The first priority though is to start climbing the table and I urge the supporters to get right behind our new manager and the players to strengthen our ability to do that.”

New boss Lambert added: “I can’t wait to get going and I’ll be using all my experience - and give everything I’ve got for Ipswich Town.

“I know about the history of the club, what a fantastic football club it is and I’m proud to be the manager here.

“Obviously it’s been a difficult start to the season but to get through this period we need to be pulling together as one - players, staff and supporters.

“I want us to play with tempo, with enthusiasm, with drive. I want the players to enjoy their football and I’m relishing the challenge of helping to take this club forward.”

Lambert, the 17th manager in Town's professional history, was last in a job earlier this year, taking charge of Stoke City in January but leaving in May following the Potters’ 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 in successive seasons.

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

His managerial career started at Livingston, where he finished his playing days, before he moved on to Wycombe.

A midfielder, he played for St Mirren, Motherwell, Borussia Dortmund - with whom he won the Champions League - and Celtic as well as Livingston. He won 40 caps for Scotland, scoring once, and played at the 1998 World Cup.

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 09:23 - Oct 27 No doubt has the right pedigree and experience. Wouldn't have been my first choice, but upon reflection probably the best candidate considering our current predicament. Good luck Paul. You have my full support. Actually looking forward to Preston.
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blueboy1981 added 09:24 - Oct 27 Optimism is a wonderful thing, but it's quite amazing how, whoever we appoint, or sign, becomes such a brilliant aquisistion. Is it just us ? However, let's move on to better things for our Club, however that may be.
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Nazemariner added 09:25 - Oct 27 Meh!
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blue86 added 09:28 - Oct 27 welcome to town paul lambert, i have to admit the norwich link does feel odd to me. but he will get my full support and really hope he can keep us up this season. my only worry is if it does go pear shaped and we end up in league 1 with lambert in charge the budgies will be wetting themselves! however im just hoping he does the business and saves us from the drop. everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction to even survive this season, and MARCUS EVANS he will NEED cash for a few quality players in jan! coyb

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ericgatesrules added 09:32 - Oct 27 Welcome Paul Lambert. Our season starts today. COYB
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Davidwb20 added 09:33 - Oct 27 Let's all get behind PL he has got a tough job. Who cares about where he used to manage. The most important thing is keeping ITFC up! COYB
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Cakeman added 09:34 - Oct 27 An excellent appointment. Welcome to Portman Road Paul. Now is indeed the time for a united front with all stakeholders.. If we unite as one we have half a chance of avoiding the drop.
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casanovacrow added 09:35 - Oct 27 I can see why the owner would go for him but "the aim for Paul and everyone at the club is to see that repeated here - and bettered!" stating those aims whilst stuck rock bottom, poor form and without funding isn't helping his naive reputation with me. He sounds like a politician. Anyway, time to get behind the new guy *superman pose*
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planetblue_2011 added 09:36 - Oct 27 Welcome aboard Paul & good luck, you might need it haha, only joking. Hope you can work your magic & get us up the league.
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busterjames1 added 09:36 - Oct 27 I think it s what we need at this moment in time ! I loved Lamberts enthusiasm when he was at col u & Norwich. Was harshly treated at wolves ,villa and was to late to save Stoke but he got them fired up while he was there so good luck .Get that tracksuit on and sort this mess out .Its a big ask but can be done .Now give our young boys a chance to shine.Please get our loan players back as they are better than anything Hurst wasted money on !

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Barhamblue added 09:37 - Oct 27 I am so pleased with this appointment, a big warm welcome Paul. Now us fans have to play our part and support you through a very tough time to come. We must not underestimate the size of the task ahead. Unfortunately Paul Lambert is inherentting a sqaud that we all know is not up to Championship standard, so I beg you all to be patient and perhaps we might just scrape relegation. The January window has never been so crucial. Well done Marcus for stopping the rot so quickly. COYBs

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:39 - Oct 27 ITFC are drinking in The Last Chance Saloon, this has to work, Welcome to Town Paul, now lets wipe the grin off the Carrot Rd shower. COYB ......GOOD LUCK TO BK today. COYB
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KernewekBlue added 09:42 - Oct 27 Well, we weren't rudderless for too long. Welcome back to East Anglia PL. Despite his obvious connection to that small club up the line, he'll need our full support in trying to get us moving up the league. Keep us in the division this season and then push on next. Not an easy task, I'll grant you. Even staying put in The Championship, given our woeful start, would be a great achievement but I'll have my fingers (and toes) crossed that you can at least make a few faux-silk purses out of the sow's ears currently at your disposal. Steady this leaky ship until January's transfer window and then pump out the bilges. We need a minor miracle but here's hoping you can turn this around!

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PortmanTerrorist added 09:42 - Oct 27 Get us rocking by Feb and if we stick it to the Scum then we might even forget your history Paul......esp if you celebrate the victory and any goals by not shouting abuse at us supporters! Survival would be nice too!
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happybeingblue added 09:47 - Oct 27 It will be very interesting to hear mick mills comments on this appointment,very surprised that he got a 3 year deal
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AlfBuksh added 09:49 - Oct 27 No no no no nonononononononononono! Why???? Our beautiful club on its knees! Surely our lowest point ever.
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Leeco84 added 09:50 - Oct 27 Great choice for both parties. Lamberts experience and success while now having a challenge eith a club with so much potential. So much negative comments already and he hasnt stepped into office yet. Who cares if he is ex Norwich as long as he gives his dedication. Think the dumb @ss fans need to lay off. Got a good feeling about this one!!!!!
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skankerman added 09:51 - Oct 27 Personally very pleased with this never warmed to PH Welcome Paul and I look forward to a new era for ITFC
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dukey44 added 09:56 - Oct 27 Welcome now that's what you call a proper manager for this situation COYB
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bluemike1969 added 09:58 - Oct 27 I concur with my fellow supporters here. Welcome to Ipswich Paul. You have our full support, wear the blue with pride and get that confidence back in the team. Get Tristan back from Scotland, get the other loanies back and get rid of the ones that don't suit and sadly can't adapt.
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Paddy39 added 09:59 - Oct 27 Doesn't matter what previous badges you have worn, you are now wearing the Blue of Ipswich Town. Welcome to you and your staff to Ipswich.
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afrodids added 10:01 - Oct 27 Us beating that lot, on their own turf with an ex manager in charge. Suit you sir, suit you. Good Mr Lambert and welcome.
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LWNR2013 added 10:01 - Oct 27 Say what you like, he looks the part. Never realised his playing pedigree was so impressive. Should easily have respect of players from the off and will impose from the stand this afternoon. It's gonna be one helluva battle though. I certainly expect to see some serious reaction on the pitch and off it.
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carlisleaway added 10:10 - Oct 27 If you are a True Blue we should all get behind Paul Lambert and forget his Norwich past. He has a big enough challenge without us fans snapping about his previous life. If he stops us being relegated he will be a hero in my eyes.
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hoppy added 10:14 - Oct 27 Onwards and upwards... welcome and good luck Paul
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