Town boss Paul Lambert and his staff will remain at Portman Road next season whatever happens in the final months of this campaign, the Blues manager and club owner Marcus Evans have confirmed in a joint-statement.

As previously reported, Evans has spent time at the club in the last fortnight talking with various department heads.

Among those meetings were discussions with Lambert and recently-appointed general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill to ensure the Town boss and his staff - assistant manager Stuart Taylor, first-team coach Matt Gill, fitness coach Jim Henry and goalkeeper-coach Jimmy Walker - will remain at the club regardless of which division Town are in next season.

“Marcus made it clear he wants me and my staff here next season whatever happens over the next four months and I made it clear we want to be here so it was a pretty easy conversation to have,” Lambert told the club site.

""“I’m fully committed to this job. I don’t know any other way. This is a fantastic football club. It’s just lost its way a bit. I’m here, my staff are here, to help it.

“I want to see this job through, help turn the club around. I’ve said before, it’s not normal to see the support we are getting from the fans when you are bottom of the league. Imagine what this place would be like if the team was winning games every week. It would be crazy.

“I want to be here to see that. It’s my job to try and help make it happen and get the club back competing where it should be.""

“Marcus has committed himself to being here as much as he can be and that’s important for all the staff, not just the playing side. We need him here. The club needs him.""

“We’ve got a really good working relationship and I have nothing but praise for the backing he has given me.

“Our immediate concern is this season but working with Lee as well, we are putting plans in place for the future. Things have to change here and everyone is committed to making that happen.”

""Owner Evans added: “I have been hugely impressed by the impact Paul has made in his short time here and I think it’s important to reinforce the message to our supporters that Paul and his team are here for the long term.""

“This has been an incredibly tough season so far, however despite everything I feel positive that we have a manager and structure at the club which provides us with a clear identity going forward.

“The evolution at the club that I started last summer was never going to be easy and obviously we are all disappointed to be where we are in the table but I urge supporters to continue to stay with us as we strive to achieve our goals.

“Above all else I wanted to create a structure - and still do - whereby every aspect of the club’s plans focus on us winning football matches but as importantly doing this in an attractive and entertaining fashion. The start of that journey was delayed but I now feel we are on our way.

""“It will take time to put the pieces in place that enable this to happen but in the end the rebuilding process will be worth it. "

“Paul is leading that with my support, Lee’s and everyone at the club - but as always, the fans are a big part of the team effort as well and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them for the support they have given Paul and the players.

“The atmosphere at the Rotherham game was electric and we need that support more than ever at every game through to the end of the season. Having spoken to the players, I know how much that backing means to them.”

Lambert was appointed Blues boss on October 27th on a three-year contact.

Photo: TWTD

chorltonskylineblue added 14:23 - Jan 18 Good to have put that to bed. We need continuity regardless of what division we're in next season. Wouldn't have been good to have this question hanging again at season ticket renewal time. If we do go down I hope this means there's no panic. Naturally we'll lose some players who don't want to drop down a division or where we can't afford their wages In League One. Having the same manager in place, who's had time to get to know the squad, and also have a full pre-season means he can put together a squad in his mould and start the rebuilding process.

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busterjames1 added 14:28 - Jan 18 Awesome news ! Went for a walk today fans are now talking about the great escape Bring it on starting with 3 points at Blackburn !!
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carlisleaway added 14:37 - Jan 18 Great news, it is up to us as fans to back him not only now......but next season when the season tickets come up for renewing. All depends on how Marcus is pricing for the future.
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Suffolkboy added 14:48 - Jan 18 Wonderful to see such consistent positivity : PL has looked and sounded the man for the job right from the start and has brought ,almost on his own , a feeling of warmth and enthusiasm which has spread everywhere ! He just might become another Ipswich legend ! COYB
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blues1 added 14:50 - Jan 18 Great news. Would have been a disaster to lose pl and his team. While i agree that M.E. will need to get ticket prices right, i wouldnt, like some i think would expect, a massive drop in prices as the club simply couldnt afford to do that. Still have what would likely be the largest wage bill in lge 1(assuming we go down). And when u take into account that a ticket for the main stand at Col utd, in lge 2, is £30 this season, then i dont see prices dropping dramatically.

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gazzer1999 added 14:51 - Jan 18 He is the most liked manager since George Burley, lets hope that it continues and we stay up and onto better things next season.
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BotesdaleBlue added 14:52 - Jan 18 This is exactly what I have been longing to hear. This is the most positive I have felt for years about our longer term future. How ironic is that, given that we are stranded at the bottom of the league. It's madness but true and it seems reading the above comments that many other supporters share this view which is brilliant. Shorter team, relegation is still odds on but we have a little hope to cling on to with three points last week. We fans must now show our support in response to this statement and turn up to as many remaing games as possible and make as much noise as possible to give us the best chance of helping the team escape the bottom three. COYB

4

juniorblue added 15:12 - Jan 18 This has made my day! Onwards and upwards now.
3

Guthrum added 15:36 - Jan 18 I like the picture of Lambert flying into Portman Road on his invisible hang-glider.
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Gcon added 15:37 - Jan 18 Evans speaks! Wow.
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Swn98 added 15:51 - Jan 18 Brilliant news feel as if im reconnecting with the club i've supported for 47 years
6

TrueBlueRich added 15:55 - Jan 18 Great news, top signing to date. Can't wait to get on coach for Blackburn and soak up the atmosphere, worth getting up at 4am. Credit to ME for backing the manager. No more negatives on here please,, we are in a new and exciting era. Could someone post words of song which voices past achievements to the tune used by a number of other clubs, tonight if possible.coyb.

3

19781981twtd added 16:05 - Jan 18 All good news .better players. Top class manager. Owner that has woken up. Now for the stay at home moaning so called itfc fans to get off their tired backsides and get behind the team and maybe just maybe we can pull out of the sh** .but i do agree with other posts ticket prices need to be reviewed look at the atmosphere last week "we need to be together and be the 12th man" lets get the Dunkirk spirit into Portman road and fight fight fight..!!! United we stand devided were fuc**d !

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Lightningboy added 16:06 - Jan 18 Fantastic news - will make possible/probable relegation a lot easier to take. I hope Lambert's here for quite a few years to come.
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RaymondovicBlue added 16:12 - Jan 18 SUPERB news.
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:17 - Jan 18 out of all the doom and gloom comes the unity and hope we all wanted ,'' Careful what you wish for ''. ! LOL. , WE ARE GETTING OUR CLUB BACK...............YESSSSSSSSSSSSS.
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Warkys_Tash added 16:18 - Jan 18 Delighted when he was announced as manager, delighted ever since, even more delighted that he wants to stay and make us great again. Best news.
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DebsyAngel added 16:19 - Jan 18 Absolutely delighted at this news! He has been the best manager we have had in years. He makes things happen, and all he has done so far has been for the benefit of the club and fans.
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woohoo added 16:26 - Jan 18 Excellent news. Had this not been confirmed and we were to go down we'd be back to the days of doom. Only two things a certain in life, but I'm as sure as I can be that PL is the right man for ITFC for the next few years.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 17:08 - Jan 18 V happy, everthing about PL has impressed me so far. Above everything he seems to understand the fans, the love for the game, the devotion to the club and the need for that to work both ways. Still think we're going down, all the more reason to ensure Lambert sticks around
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ashp19 added 17:27 - Jan 18 Love PL and his team and he genuinely has the clubs interest in mind!
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Sporall added 17:58 - Jan 18 I would turn gay for Paul Lambert
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blueboy1981 added 18:35 - Jan 18 Give the Owner and Manager great credit for turning an extremely negative situation, into very much a positive. Go down ? - no problem, we'll be back. After all we're BLUE - so why wouldn't we ? COYB.
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RobITFC added 18:36 - Jan 18 @thorpie yes some passion and at least he is not telling the fans to F%ck Off!
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blueboy1981 added 18:37 - Jan 18 ........ one could easily believe Paul Lambert has been longing to get here for years ..... !! - probably wrong, but it certainly seems that way. Let's lift the roof for the rest of the season - whatever.
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