TWTD understands Sunderland goalkeeping-coach Jimmy Walker is set to join new boss Paul Lambert’s Town staff.

Walker, 45, played for Lambert during a loan spell at Colchester United during 2008/09, making 16 appearances.

The Sutton-in-Ashfield-born keeper began his playing career at Notts County before a long spell with Walsall where he made his name - making 404 of his total of 483 league starts plus two sub appearances - and secured a Bosman free move to West Ham in the summer of 2004.

Having played for the Hammers in play-off semi-finals against the Blues in his first season at Upton Park, he joined Tottenham in September 2009, before returning to Walsall - where he added another 50 league starts - prior to stints with Peterborough and Lincoln.

Walker, who is based in Stamford, began his coaching career with Posh in 2013 before moving on to Gillingham and then the Imps during their 2016/17 Vanarama National League championship campaign, in which they beat the Blues in the FA Cup, before joining new Sunderland manager Jack Ross's coaching staff in the summer.

Long-serving Town keeper-coach Malcolm Webster retired at the end of last season with head of academy goalkeeping Darren Smith, who had spent time working with the first team under Webster, given the role on what was effectively a trial basis by former boss Paul Hurst.

Photo: Action Images

cantona11 added 10:44 - Nov 6 By all accounts Chris doig was the problem not Hurst but Hurst needed to say something to him as he seems a right bully at 6 foot something as apparently he had said to Bart " I can't believe you are an international goalkeeper you are s$#t" well that would effect anyone as that was coming from a nobody that's never made it in the game and was banned from traveling with the team to Leeds

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pegasus added 10:57 - Nov 6 More than just appointment of a goalkeeping coach here, so can I pick up some of the thoughts about TRANSFERS. We're talking human beings here, professional sportsmen who want to make the most of their playing careers, careers that might get cut short by injury at any time. So to the Waghorn case. He wouldn't have had much of a signing-on fee when he joined Town. He's been a success here. He is closer to the end of his playing career than the beginning. A club comes in with a BIG offer. The club is closer to where he was brought up. He has family in that area. His share of that fee will be significant. Even if Town were to offer him more money a month, it won't be as much as this transfer fee share/signing - on fee. What would you do? I don't think there was anything Hurst or Evans could have done about all of that. Or is there something I'm missing here...

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ArnieM added 11:04 - Nov 6 I don't blame any of the players for going. They're all going to leave if s fat pay cheque isvwaved infront if them. ALL of them. So let's not all misty eyed about “ one of our own” . That's a fan thing. Not a professional footballers. Evans tried “ something different “( his words) and he's caught a big cold from it. Now he's having to spend money , lots more of it, to bring in Lambert and his team to correct this mistake. We will be fighting the drop until the last ball is kicked this season now. Why the hell hr didn't go for Lambert to start with God only knows. He's also a “ young” manager, just not the cheap option Hurst was. Problem is his cost cutting may now prove to be his biggest cost as owner of Town !!

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Bildestoned added 11:15 - Nov 6 Sorry whoever it was that commented as such but it's not wholly accurate to make ME part-culpable for Hurst's buys/boys. The latter had an obviously clear and determined idea as to who he wanted to bring to the Club and having appointed him ME had to back his judgement. The absence from Saturday's starting line-up of so many of those players speaks volumes.
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TimmyH added 12:01 - Nov 6 Guthrum - I think your splitting hairs there to a degree, without looking at exact attendances when Evans first came here we were averaging around 22k as you say but an average Portman Road attendance currently (taking the local derby game out of the equation which does bump up the mean) we're around 15k or so...and Norwich attendances don't seem to be dropping even after their last poor season, so to blame the financial downturn as a reason isn't entirely correct in my opinion.

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ArnieM added 12:02 - Nov 6 Absolutely agree with you on this 100% and I remarked on that fact to my friend on Saturday. It was obvious that Hurts players were not up to the task . Whether thet can be developed I'm not sure. Tbh I'd rather develop our academy players first. But I doubt we'll be seeing many of Hurst imports in the back four or midfield again anytime soon.
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brendenward35 added 12:03 - Nov 6 I can see PL shipping a few of those new boys out of the club in January, maybe likes of Nolan and co were causing issues in the dressing room being PH buddies. Looking at the Sunderland website they are losing a good coach so good work by PL to get him to move to Town.
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TimmyH added 12:05 - Nov 6 Gilesy - as I have mentioned before I think you'll find a majority of owners suffer operating losses in the Championship (and maybe other lower leagues)...no doubt in my mind he's trying to keep these to a minimum through other avenues and hence keep expenditures to a minimum as we've experienced 4 of the last 5 seasons from 2012/13.
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Gilesy added 12:48 - Nov 6 Quite likely Timmy, but what's your point? He's not milking the club is my point.
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Elkcib added 13:01 - Nov 6 New goal keeping coach yet so called supporters still moan! Some folk need to look up what the terms support & supporters mean, because clearly they're oblivious
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Charlie_pl_baxter added 13:45 - Nov 6 Tractorboy1985 Evans added £35m to his wealth last year so he's investing about 17% of his earnings. If you were on the UK average wage that's the equivalent of dropping £100 a week not £20.
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Sparky85 added 14:02 - Nov 6 So then Charlie_pl, one mans 'investment' is another mans smoking habit :)
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Dissboyitfc added 14:10 - Nov 6 Jimmy no need for name calling, I stopped calling people names when I left junior school. My point is this, it's very hypocritical for people who never put a penny into the club( I speak of those who could afford to) complaining that Evans should be spending more. Would be great if he did! Whatever you slice it, he saved us and continues to put money in. And like you say it's a forum and anyone can comment, I just have again! Perhaps those who never go, should go and that would mean more money in the club to spend on transfers, there is a novel thought. Now is the time to get behind the team, this was a thread about a goalkeeping coach. I find it very boring that no matter what the story, some will turn it into a story about Evans.

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Charlie_pl_baxter added 14:19 - Nov 6 Sparky fair point, just wanted to get the numbers right!
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grubbyoik added 21:44 - Nov 6 The short fall that Evans puts in each year goes onto the ever increasing debt. Evans happily tucks into any transfer profit.. So how is this man good for our club...
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Gcon added 22:25 - Nov 6 Guthrum. I'm pretty close. Marcus Evans bought the club in 2007. In 2006 av attendance was 24,253. Every year it has diminished in a consistent pattern since he bought it and looks set to average 15k this season.
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