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

ThaiBlue added 10:17 - Oct 27 Just get us out of the bottom 3 and stabilize us and get some entertainment going for our supporters please.Good luck Paul think you'll do just fine.
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howsey51 added 10:18 - Oct 27 The 3rd “Paul” in 4 managers- 3rd time lucky!
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Skip73 added 10:23 - Oct 27 I am actually quite excited by this, we are the same type of club as Norwich and he was ery successful there.
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vanmunt added 10:23 - Oct 27 Hopefully the players will play for the new manager as after the QPR and Leeds games it was blatantly obvious they weren't going to for PH. Best of luck PL, you are going to need it.
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Dissboyitfc added 10:32 - Oct 27 Pleased with this, one thing i would say is this, certain comments on here are concerned with the norwich connections should we get relegated, would rather if we are to go down it is with Lambert, would be so sad to have Burley and Butcher back and tar their legendary status with relegation! Lambert at this stage is as good as we could hope for! Welcome Paul
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Bluefish11 added 10:36 - Oct 27 We have appointed a manager who has 40 international caps, has played at a world cup, won the Champions League, and as a manager has taken a team from Div 1 to the Prem in back to back seasons and has years of Prem league experience. We could not want for better, in our situation I am more than pleasantly surprised he has come down to our level! Get behind the man and forget any Norwich connection, believe me he wants to exceed his Budgies achievements.

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budgieplucker added 10:42 - Oct 27 If you study his cv and think rationally then currently there is probably no better man for the job. The change needed to happen and with the right candidate available I do give credit to Marcus for stepping into stop the rot quickly. Paul Hurst had a third of the season to prove that he could keep us safe and remain competitive in this league and sadly he couldn't demonstrate that. I do though feel sorry for Hurst as I think he was setup to fail. Marcus showed no ambition to keep our best players at the club to give PH a backbone to work with. A modest investment on top of say 5 million to have helped build on that would not have been unrealistic in my eyes for a Championship club who wants to remain competitive. We Ipswich Town fans are some of the most reasonable in the country, I don't think anyone would expect us to compete with 10 million pound signings every year nor want us to spend that amount of money on one player. Our young players are our future. BUT we have to dismiss these romantic dreams that we can put out a team full of inexperienced youngsters and be competitive week in week out, this has to be a gradual and evolutionary process. This means every now and again where we need to go out and find a missing piece of the jigsaw ME occasionally needs to put his hand in his pocket and top up the kitty. We don't allow players to go that will weaken the team until we have adequate replacements. So Marcus show some more ambition and back your new manager as I am pleased the overwhelming support on here is fully behind Paul Lambert - are you? And as for any of those dopey comments about Paul's ex connections with Norwich.....well probably doesn't deserve any wasted oxygen of reply

16

Karlosfandangal added 10:59 - Oct 27 Pleased with this, however Mr Lambert has not got a chance as he is not a fans person and all the Mick haters will want him out at some point just because he managed Norwich. Tough job for him as he has to make the best of the players here till Jan, he is a good organiser and tactision so I think he will keep us up........ Evans won't. Be sacking Lambert for at least 2 years as he can't afford it so Mick haters get over the Norwich thing and get behind the bloke

0

bluearmy4life added 11:04 - Oct 27 Welcome Paul Lambert. Agree with many other posters we must forget the Norwich connection. If he does a great job for us, keeps us up and can do something amazing for us, Norwich fans will hate him for that, so let the haters hate. This would be the perfect way to get one over them in February. We as fans have to really get behind him. Let's become the 12th man and help the new management team and the players get out of the poo that we're in. Good luck Paul ⚽️🔵⚪️

6

Essexipswichboy added 11:17 - Oct 27 Interesting CV is very impressive, I like someone else on here didn't realize how well he did as a player. Not that that helps IE Roy Keane. I do definitely believe this is a miles better appointment than PH tho I just hope it's not too late! Looks to me like he knew for a littowbile this was coming so hopefully he already knows what needs to be done. Do t like people getting the sack but the whole PH saga was doomed to fail because had he won Playoff final he probably wouldn't have come..... Thus when he didn't win he didn't have much time, so then ran around like a kid in a sweet shop and we all know what happened next. My only reservation here is the way he has jumped ship in the past when he got better offers IE col u and indeed Norwich. Somehow tho I do feel optimistic about this I think ME may have got this one right Just needs to back him now

4

Essexipswichboy added 11:17 - Oct 27 Interesting CV is very impressive, I like someone else on here didn't realize how well he did as a player. Not that that helps IE Roy Keane. I do definitely believe this is a miles better appointment than PH tho I just hope it's not too late! Looks to me like he knew for a littowbile this was coming so hopefully he already knows what needs to be done. Do t like people getting the sack but the whole PH saga was doomed to fail because had he won Playoff final he probably wouldn't have come..... Thus when he didn't win he didn't have much time, so then ran around like a kid in a sweet shop and we all know what happened next. My only reservation here is the way he has jumped ship in the past when he got better offers IE col u and indeed Norwich. Somehow tho I do feel optimistic about this I think ME may have got this one right Just needs to back him now

0

Essexipswichboy added 11:17 - Oct 27 Interesting CV is very impressive, I like someone else on here didn't realize how well he did as a player. Not that that helps IE Roy Keane. I do definitely believe this is a miles better appointment than PH tho I just hope it's not too late! Looks to me like he knew for a littowbile this was coming so hopefully he already knows what needs to be done. Do t like people getting the sack but the whole PH saga was doomed to fail because had he won Playoff final he probably wouldn't have come..... Thus when he didn't win he didn't have much time, so then ran around like a kid in a sweet shop and we all know what happened next. My only reservation here is the way he has jumped ship in the past when he got better offers IE col u and indeed Norwich. Somehow tho I do feel optimistic about this I think ME may have got this one right Just needs to back him now

0

janeb123 added 11:24 - Oct 27 I don't see how Evans can back him with money, as we have nothing to sell, and we can't break the financial fair play rules. We could do a Bourenemouth, over spend by £36 million and then negotiate a £2 mil fine with EFL. What he can t do is a. QPR. Let's hope some luck comes our way, cos we need it.
1

herfie added 11:51 - Oct 27 Welcome Paul, and assistants, to this great club; you've accepted a privileged appointment at a t8me when your experience, commitment and passion are most needed. Be assured of our support and good will to achieve Blue Deliverance and, hopefully, more in the months ahead. COYB.
5

Suffolkboy added 12:09 - Oct 27 This looks like an excellent choice ; pity he didn't actually come in earlier .Comparisons with PJ and RK are not valid; PJ was always a dubious choice ( look at his previous departures ) and our face to face experience of the man & his closest cohorts at the training ground showed us exactly how inadequate he was & lacking in confidence and character -- we were treated awfully and he hasn't been able to hold down a job in football since ,so far as I'm aware . RK was the wrong choice : hell of a playing record but then ( and even now it seems ) a rotten manager of men , short on tolerance and of temper ; always likely to want to spend to find a blend and has never demonstrated dedication to bringing through youngsters .In his personal life I'm told he can be quite charming but in football an almost total change of character .Never though was he the correct fit for ITFC . PL has a proven character and track record : we should whole heartedly welcome he and his team and I'm sure his discussions with ME will be well weighed and fruitful . Very very best wishes PL & co ., we all trust you'll bring refreshing ideas to every aspect of our smashing Club .Enjoy , & we will with you ! Let's accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative - and don't mess with Mr In Between ! Up the Blues !

4

thechangingman added 12:38 - Oct 27 Okay. My initial reaction was shock and negativity and I feared the worst. Then I woke up and realised this isn't about me and my petty prejudices and dislikes. This is about my beloved football club and I've therefore put myself aside to focus on being a positive supporter who'll do anything to help us succeed. I therefore want to wish Paul well and welcome him to our club. Stump up the cash in January Evans and give Lambert the best chance possible of success. No more cheap options, no more cutting corners. Step up or step away - we can't tolerate any more of your half-measures! The season starts today and together let's turn this thing round the Ipswich way - with passion, belief, positivity and a never-say-die attitude. The only way is up and we can do this - starting right now!! COYB ITID

2

JimBaxter added 12:47 - Oct 27 As a fellow Glaswegian welcome to the club Paul forgetting your Celtic and Norwich connections I wish you all the best...
2

warktheline added 12:53 - Oct 27 Sitting in the ruddy stands ! Get in the bloody dug out and roll your sleeves up! Unreal! Show ‘purpose' NOW, not tomorrow or next week, NOW!
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Europablue added 13:00 - Oct 27 What's not to like about this appointment? We have to remember that professional football managers aren't that attached to one club unless they manage there for a very long time. Hopefully he'll be here for years to come, because that means he will have done a great job. I'm happy about the style of football he likes to play
3

leftie1972 added 13:03 - Oct 27 Congratulations and welcome Paul and the other members of your staff.
3

Skip73 added 13:32 - Oct 27 Wow Warktheline! That has to be the stupidest comment today. He probably hasn't even met the players yet, let alone know his best 11.
3

LondonBlue73 added 13:32 - Oct 27 Warktheline - please think for a minute and let's not be negative for the sake of it. He was announced this morning and the players are already in London, the team has been prepared and picked by Klug and co. They would have practiced various drill and formations, the players will need consistency not a different voice just before they take to the pitch. Let's support the team.

1

ElephantintheRoom added 13:40 - Oct 27 The revolving door has twirled for yet another gravy train rider and his team of yes men . If he gets as long as Hurst he will be gone in January. Will they move to the area? Will they bring in a load of journeymen? Will anything change given the pathetic state of the club and lack of leadership? Such exciting times.
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northessex_blue added 13:50 - Oct 27 Really pleased with this news and feel that the club will be in much safer hands. Good luck and lets now get out of this mess! COYB
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oldelsworthyfan added 14:02 - Oct 27 It won't be difficult for this to be the best Managerial appointment for ITFC ME has made!
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