Blues boss Paul Lambert has sought to clarify his post-match radio comments from last weekend and says he will be at Town next season unless owner Marcus Evans sacks him, something which looks highly unlikely to happen.

In January, Evans and Lambert put out a joint-statement confirming that the Blues boss, who took charge in October following Paul Hurst’s sacking, would remain at Portman Road for 2019/10 regardless of which division Town would be in. However, Lambert appeared to put that in question last weekend.

Asked this afternoon whether he saw why fans found his comments unsettling, he responded: “No, I don’t understand it because I was only answering the question.

"The question to me was, ‘People [are critical] of your record and results’, so my answer to that was that if Marcus the owner wants to make a change, fine, I’m not going to argue with it. It’s no problem, see what happens at the end of the season.

“He might still change it at the end of the season, nobody knows. But I get on really well with him, really well with him.

“The results drive me mad, playing-wise we play some really good stuff but we don’t get the reward for it.

“But not once in in an interview did I say I’m walking away. And not once did I say I was going to Celtic, not once did I say I was going to Scotland.

“What I would do is leave here and go and enjoy myself in my life. But I wouldn’t beg somebody for me to hang around because the crowd deserve better. As I’ve said before the crowd have been overwhelming.

“That’s what does my head in, we play that well and we can’t give them what they want. But the other side of it is that they see us playing really, really good football, without getting a break.

“We feel the frustration of it and vice versa because you can’t keep playing as well as you can and not get any breaks.

“We’re creating chances, we’re playing good football, we do everything but the only way we’ll go is if the owner says, ‘Listen, thanks very much, see you later’ then, I don’t have a problem.”

Evans’s position is understood not to have changed since January and there appears virtually no chance of him sacking Lambert at the end of the season.

Was the Blues boss just saying last week that he’s been in the game long enough to know that owners saying they’ll stick with a manager doesn’t always mean that?

“Yes, probably,” Lambert reflected. "I know the game, I know how it works, so I never really look too far ahead as such at what’s going on.

“I know how the game works and I know the pitfalls of it. Steve McClaren lost his job at QPR the other day and I thought he was doing really well. In football things come out that you don’t see coming at certain times.

“But I was asked a question about it and the only way we’ll go is if Marcus makes a change.

“Marcus is probably better sitting here answering that question, you’re probably better asking him that if you can get hold of him.”

He added: “The question was about people questioning the results so in a roundabout way, I know how you guys work, [it was about] if Marcus [might] made a change, [that] sort of thing.

“That is not a problem for me that. Not one problem with it. Never once in an interview did I say I was walking away or give any indication I was walking away.

“I know what I want to happen at the end of the season, I know where I want the club to go. I know in my head what’s planned for the club to move forward, I know exactly everything that I want to happen.

“I hate it for the supporters because they’ve been that good for us, they’ve been unbelievable.

“I want them to enjoy it. They enjoy the football and all those sorts of thing but the results are not there for us at the minute.

“We draw, even draws are like a defeat for us. We’ve drawn I don’t know how many games and it’s like a defeat for us because of the position we’re in. We need wins.

“But I don’t hang my hat on everything, that’s for sure. But never once did I say that I was walking away. People can read into that how they want it, but they've also got to realise my position; I know what’s happened before at certain clubs I’ve been at so I know exactly how the game works.”

Pressed further, he was asked to make it 100 per cent clear that the situation is that unless Evans sacks him he’ll still be here next season.

He added: “Yes. We got there in the end, that was longer than Brexit!”

Photo: TWTD

1RWR added 16:12 - Apr 4 That'll do for me!
14

never_lose_the_faith added 16:15 - Apr 4 Paul Lambert is a blue!! That's me renewing my season ticket . Up the town!
8

SouperJim added 16:21 - Apr 4 And woe betide Evans if he sacked him, I think it'd start a very vocal movement to get Evans out of the club.
9

hoppy added 16:21 - Apr 4 Glad that's been cleared up. Any chance of coming straight back up would've been damaged greatly had we not had the consistency of carrying on with the man that has done so much to reunite the fans with the club, and getting players playing a better style than we've seen in some while. Injuries have been our biggest problem this season. Well, that, and Paul Hurst.
8

dukey44 added 16:26 - Apr 4 Personally I can see us have a great season next season if we can find someone to put the ball in the net👍
18

essextractorboy93 added 16:30 - Apr 4 Excellent news! We definitely should have turned several of those draws into wins. We desperately need someone who can stick away some of the chances we are creating. Interesting to see what happens in the summer!
13

stourvalleyblue added 16:34 - Apr 4 anyone who heard the interveiw could hear he answered the question asked... could not understand how any muppet thought he said he would leave
2

blueboy1981 added 16:42 - Apr 4 Understandably disappointed with his results since arriving, must have some effect in questioning his own capability at times, not just here, but previously too. He has to have time, at least next season - which will certainly be a true telling point. However, Scotland will beckon at some point - nailed on as national team Manager for Scotland at some point in the future. Lambert just has to start producing results again in his career.

6

blueboy1981 added 16:48 - Apr 4 ....... most people will he relieved, and happy, that he is happy to stay, at least for now. Myself included. Beyond which - who knows ? - as he says himself, in this game, nothing can ever be taken for granted.
2

Bluearmy_81 added 16:50 - Apr 4 And woe betide Evans if he sacked him, I think it'd start a very vocal movement to get Evans out of the club. Would be about 6 years too late but nevermind 😂
1

TimmyH added 16:51 - Apr 4 Fortunately for Paul his 'get out of jail card' has been that he has largely inherited the squad but if we he had started the season with the results we've had under him he too probably would have been sacked...but as Blueboy alludes too the microscope will be on him next season and yes Mr Evans too regarding what happens in the summer with players that are let go etc.
4

Sparky85 added 17:09 - Apr 4 All comments around results are a little unfair considering the mess which was inherited. Some believe that he has his own players now so should be improving but I have 2 arguments to that: 1. The style has most definitely improved (barring a couple of games) 2. He was never going to be able to sign top class players with where we were in the table. Honestly very excited about next season and this new direction of the club.

10

Bert added 17:13 - Apr 4 Just as I thought but pleased for the clarification. Lambert may not have worked his magic results wise but given our injuries and bad luck he will be forgiven. He can now mould the club and how it works, something that previous managers never did. He gets the community aspect of football and how important it is for fans to feel they belong. We have our identity back thanks to Lambert and some nice touches from Evans. Can't wait until August.

5

Saxonblue74 added 17:31 - Apr 4 Odds on us finishing above the Budgies in 2020/21 championship season please! I'd have a few quid on that!!!
1

ArnieM added 18:13 - Apr 4 Paul Lambert is a Blue, is a Blue Paul Lambert is a Blue He hates narwich...... Bring it on ....., COYB'ssssss
2

jas0999 added 18:21 - Apr 4 It's great news, but equally a few glimpses of concern. Talks about different direction a lot and wait and see. Also, he talks about finding middle ground regarding budget. Sounds very much like PLs idea of budget and Evans could be somewhat different.
1

Saxonblue74 added 19:03 - Apr 4 Jas0999, I think it's the same situation for the vast majority of managers in the football league. They would love huge budgets to work with but there has to be compromise, therein lies the middle ground.
0

SickParrot added 19:43 - Apr 4 YES. With a bit of help from Marcus, Paul Lambert can make us a force in league 1.
1

ITFCsince73 added 19:47 - Apr 4 If we finish this season, with just the 3 wins to our name, as much as I like Lambo some serious questions would need to be asked. I appreciate he inherited the vast majority of the squad, but although it's been a dismal season, the players have shown since the very 1st game of the season that there more than capable of staying in the Championship. Overall failed to perform for Hurst and now Lambo. I think the squad we started the season with, plus the January arrivals was more than capable of fourth bottom at the very least.

4

tractorboybig added 19:48 - Apr 4 paul jewell 2...says what the leemings want to hear...and they follow.
0

cat added 20:09 - Apr 4 Reasonable pleased with this, Lambo's ability to get the fans on side has clearly worked regarding the off field matters, looking at the results on the field though it's nothing short of ‘pish poor' He needs to hit the ground running next season otherwise the wheels are gonna fall off the Lambo bus pronto like.
5

davidsuperg added 20:29 - Apr 4 He'll never be be scum. He'll neeeeeveeeer beeeee scuuuuum Pauly Lambert He'll never be scum
0

davidsuperg added 20:33 - Apr 4 I for one with my 7 year old son and my mate with his 2 young sons and wife will be getting our season tickets back after 3 long hard years if Lambert stays. #evanskeepthemanhereryoufool
0

BeethorpeAndy added 21:32 - Apr 4 Paul cares for the club. He is passionate and hard working and will turn this great club around. Ipswich till he dies,he's ipswich till he dies , I'm sure he is i know he is,he's Ipswich till he dies !!!!!!! COYB
0

MickMillsTash added 21:46 - Apr 4 Good that he is staying BUT all this positivity, 'best fans in the world ' unbelievable youngsters etc will be no good if we don't sign a striker
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls