Blues boss Paul Lambert appears to have called into question whether he will be at Portman Road next season.

Lambert and owner Marcus Evans released a joint-statement in January to confirm that the Scot, who took charge in late October following Paul Hurst’s sacking signing a three-year deal, would be staying on regardless of which division the Blues found themselves in next season and it would be a surprise if the situation has changed.

Evans's position is not believed to have changed and we understand the club firmly expect Lambert to still be at Portman Road for a 2019/20 campaign which will almost certainly be in League One.

Further to that, Lambert has stated on a number of occasions that he wants to be the man to rebuild Town using the young players coming through the academy and has also already begun preparations for a pre-season trip to Germany.

Lambert hasn't been tipped for any other jobs since taking over at Town, although his former club Celtic will be after a new permanent boss in the summer with Neil Lennon in temporary charge since Brendan Rodgers's departure. Lambert is currently a 20-1 outsider for the job with the bookies.

However, speaking to Radio Suffolk in his regular post-match interview (39mins 47secs), Lambert appeared to suggest that that he might not necessarily be the Blues' manager next season.

Asked whether he felt it was fair that some fans are questioning his record with Town having won only two of his 25 games in charge, Lambert said: “Of course it is, that’s results. If the club don’t want me to stay here, there’s no problem I’ll go, it’s not an issue. I don’t have any issue whatsoever.

“The club’s more important than me, it’s more important than any individual. The club will outlive everybody, so if the club want to me to go at the end of the season, I don’t have a problem. None.

“But what I would say is that being here and being the manager of the club, it’s an unbelievable club to manage.

“So, whoever gets the job at the end of the season if I’m not here, you’ve got an incredible club behind you, you’ve got an incredible support behind you, so there’s no problem for me.”

Questioned on whether he was still fully confident he’ll turn things around given time, which Evans is almost certain to give him, Lambert added: “Wait and see what happens at the end of the season, what’s going to happen’s going to happen. I know in my own head what’s going to happen but wait and see but what I will say is if I’m not here, then I’m proud to be the manager here because those fans deserve unbelievable football.”

Asked to clarify that he wants to be at Town next season, Lambert responded: “I told you, wait and see what’s going to happen, and that’s me being honest with everybody. I love the club, I love the support, it’s fantastic.

“Listen, I’ve been at massive clubs, huge clubs that have won the highest honours and I’ve played in front of great atmospheres, at great stadia, great fans. Ipswich is up there, 100 per cent they’re up there and what a place to get your football right, that’s for sure.”

When it was suggested a change of manager at Town in the summer would be crazy with the club requiring stability, Lambert added: “Listen, I’m too long in the tooth to think you can rest. Football is a great game for kicking somewhere where you don’t want it.

“I’ve been involved in the highest owners and clubs, the highest everything. Marcus Evans is a brilliant guy, the club’s in a good place with what could happen because of the young ones it’s got and the support it’s got behind it, and that’s the main [thing].

“The most important people aren’t me, it’s the supporters and the players. I want what’s best for the football club and the record of not winning games is absolutely not good enough, we’ve drawn too many games. But playing football-wise we’ve been exciting.

“As I said before, I was at an ex-players’ dinner last night and when you talk about legends at the football club, they were all there in abundance and it shows you how much it means to everybody.”

Photo: TWTD

blueboy1981 added 08:56 - Mar 31 CLARIFICATION and TRUTH required NOW - from both Owner, and Manager.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:00 - Mar 31 We shall see. I can't see any reason just yet to interpret the interview as a prelude to PL leaving, but I'd like to be reassured. I wish he had said something more definite like, "You never know in football, but I'd really like to stay and take the club back to where it should be." I think he deserves at least a full season if not two to prove he can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

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Dissboyitfc added 09:28 - Mar 31 To me it reminded me of the time Keegan Resigned after an England performance when he felt he couldnt take the the team any further, hopefully frustration at losing to a very average side and the realisation that today all but confirmed our destiny. Comments like these are not going to help in getting the signature of Judge!! Need a statement from the Owner, one which is not BS, the truth please and now!!

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Fenblue added 09:31 - Mar 31 I hope that the unrest caused by this interview will result in a statement from the owner to clarify his intentions. I thoroughly enjoyed the blog entitled 'Broken Ipswich' by SouperJim. I don't use this site often, but that was worth turning up for!
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loudnproud added 09:39 - Mar 31 I did believe that Lambert could take the club forward......Then he went and instigated a new contract for captain calamity ......who i feel could not lead a guide dog.
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roytheboy added 09:49 - Mar 31 I can appreciate and understand why Paul feels like this, the lads never looked much like scoring and we all went home feeling gloomy, however I hope that he reads this, because he is the main reason that myself and my family are looking forward to relegation, if he stays then we shall continue to buy our season tickets, I have great faith in Paul, he will need to sign a couple of more capable strikers and Mr Evans must show his commitment by making the necessary finance for Paul, we cannot lose Paul Lambert.

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floridaboy added 09:49 - Mar 31 I think he will stay. With the youngsters coming through it could be a really season in Division One. In all fairness it was a stupid question from Radio Suffolk. Stating the obvious with regards to wins. Unless someone is coming in to buy the club - and who knows - really cant see Evans coughing up cash to pay off the remainder of PL contract and also his staff.
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Barhamblue added 09:54 - Mar 31 Nothing in this what so ever. Just people who wants to spread negative gossip.
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BlueWax added 09:56 - Mar 31 Florida blue....spot on, such a stupid question, needless and stupid. For the good of the club.....ME make a statement on this matter and ST prices as soon as possible!
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Cloddyseedbed added 09:59 - Mar 31 ME's I'm not enjoying how you've run and continue running our club one little bit. Because of the way you choose to run the club, constantly hiding from the supporters and media alike it leads to uncertainty throughout the club on many issues on an ongoing basis. When you do an interview it is rehearsed and any questions raised are known by you beforehand. Personally I hate the way the club is run by you. Truthfully you can't afford to run the club and can't find a buyer, what a bl**dy mess we supporters find our club in. We thought we had stability going forward in div 1 with a manager who has been here long enough to face the problems that exist with the playing staff head on next season and now that is up in arms too. It beggars belief. How far is OUR club likely to fall with you as the owner? Strange that David Sheepshanks was on the pitch yesterday showing his face again, is he heading a take over bid of the club with a team of investors?? I for one want Lambert to stay next season but I fear things have been going on behind the scenes over the last 2 weeks and as usual the supporters are the ones feeling let down and once again disillusioned.

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Saxonblue74 added 10:17 - Mar 31 Lambert is smart enough to know that football can be harsh, a results based business. A very small number of naive fans are beginning to ask questions regarding his ability to lead us forward and I see this as no more than a response to that. I don't see this as any statement of intent from him, simply a "who knows what may happen". I'm confident he wants to stay.
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planetblue_2011 added 10:26 - Mar 31 Strange reading this it makes me feel nervous of what is going to happen. Results speak for it self though & only 2 wins in 25 games is very poor from any manager. Before yesterday's games we should of won the last 3 games picking up 9 points but no we draw them all & we are left with 3 points then loosing yesterday just makes me think we are not going to win another game this season. League 1 is gonna be a really hard league to get out of, we need our players to react big time & if Lambert is in charge next season I'm hoping he is the man to give the players that drive. We need wins on the board from day one next season to have any chance of going straight back up.

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carlo88 added 11:03 - Mar 31 All he needed to have said was that, he had already made a statement saying he would be here next season if the chairman still wanted him, and that that position hadn't changed. By saying what he did implied he wasn't sure what he wanted to do, which makes me think he's had enough already. Wouldn't bother me if he went anyway, we are hopeless this season but shouldn't be on 24 points, below Bolton who are a complete basket case. I can't get to matches but from what I've seen live, we play some nice football but are not particularly organised, and don't seem to want to fight. That's down to the manager.

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Northstandveteran added 11:17 - Mar 31 I really don't see what all the fuss is about Lambert? No, these aren't his players, No, he was never going to attract the players HE wanted in the transfer window. But unlike MM when he took over, results just haven't improved. "This is a great club, the fans are great, I love you all, I'll invite the boys of 81 for a stroll around the training ground" Spin and publicity stunts 10 out of 10, results... hmmmm. To provide a balanced view between the split in the supporters, I suppose you have to come to your own conclusions. Would you rather watch mind numbingly, boring, mid table, championship football with 8000 fans under Mick or would you rather watch mind numbingly, boring, mid table, division one football with 8000 fans under Lambert? I choose neither.

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BobbyBell added 11:35 - Mar 31 I think too much is being made of this. PL has said he wants the job long term but what he is now saying is that if the results aren't good enough and the club want him to go then he will go for the good of the club. He has honestly and openly answered questions and in doing so has admitted that he has no God given right to the job and that the results have been poor. He is an employee of the club and as such if the club think someone else can get the results then he will be replaced. It's honest, it's open and it's the truth.

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alfromcol added 11:54 - Mar 31 The club wanted these sort of comments ahead of season ticket sales, like a hole in the head! Clarification is urgently required ahead of renewals.
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Dissboyitfc added 12:09 - Mar 31 BobbyBell... Asked to clarify that he wants to be at Town next season, Lambert responded: “I told you, wait and see what's going to happen, and that's me being honest with everybody. I love the club, I love the support, it's fantastic. He virtually refused to answer the question, worrying comments or rather lack of!
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Marinersnose added 12:24 - Mar 31 It wouldn't matter who had taken charge after that buffoon Hurst departed as we are devoid of decent strikers. To sell three top goal scorers and expect to recover is unbelievable. Lambert has managed to get in two additions in Keane and Quaner but his options were so limited as the club is rock bottom of the Championship. He has galvanised the club and there is a buzz at the ground which has been missing for years. If and it's a big if, he can retain Bishop, Downes, Dozzell and Lancaster he will have some young quality players. I strongly believe he may have been told that these young players will have to be sold. I hope I'm wrong and I hope he stays and rebuilds our declining club.

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BooM76 added 13:05 - Mar 31 When I read the comments it seems odd to me that our fans are so vested in PL considering not pulling a single win (maybe he got one, been so long I can't remember) out of his hat. Understand the team is below par but surely he has a strategy or two up his sleeve?! ME does not give a rats ass about this club, I get that, or he's a clueless bungler ... or both, but either way, expect to be in League 1 for sometime. We all seem clueless to create a strategy to go forward, granted some bad luck coupled with poor decisions in upper management, but my point is - If PL is the man for the job - get behind him and shake the foundations of this club to get him what he needs. I feel we were harsh on MM and are paying the price, hind sight of course, but we should all forge together to make this rebuild a reality - we will need the strength in the decade to come!

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ITFCsince73 added 13:22 - Mar 31 Marinersnose. With respect. Do you still believe it was Hursts decision to sell our best players? Decision made long before his arrival.
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alfromcol added 13:23 - Mar 31 Sheepshank on the pitch, PFA job up for grabs, any connection? Any publicity is good publicity.
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londontractorboy57 added 13:24 - Mar 31 Cant work this one out PL comes in to a club in intensive care we had no chance of staying up surely he should stay and build a better future, after MM was drubbed out of the club i thought i was finished however i really brought in to Lamberts philosophy and was looking forward to next season. If Lambert goes it will be the final nail in my 46 year relationship with ITFC.

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senduntd added 13:32 - Mar 31 Please Please Stay Paul.
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blueboy1981 added 13:53 - Mar 31 Something has changed behind the scenes - only time will tell what it is. In the meantime - Supporters in limbo yet again. Do you expect more ? - after all we are ITFC - so is it really a surprise ... ??
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graham2408 added 14:46 - Mar 31 If PL goes, and I hope he doesn't, we could do worse than look at Sam Allardyce. We could count on him to get promotion.
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