Former Blues striker Shefki Kuqi has reiterated his desire to manage Town at some point in the future.

Kuqi, who has had spells in charge of clubs in his adopted home Finland, FC Honka, PK-35 and Inter Turku, applied for the Portman Road job when it became vacant a year ago when he outlined his plans for the club in an interview with TWTD but wasn't interviewed for the role.

Speaking on talkSPORT this morning, Kuqi expressed his disappointment at seeing the club he represented between 2003 and 2005 and then again in a loan spell in 2008 relegated to League One.

“It’s really sad,” the Kosovo-born frontman said. “You see those fans, I had a really good relationship with all of them. Ipswich, what’s happened to them is really sad.

“It’s a great club and, of course, I always said that one day I would love to be there and work because I think nowadays you have to understand the environment and the surroundings of the club.

"I'd love to go back and work there."

"What's happened to Ipswich is really sad. It's a great club."@ShefkiKuqi tells @JimWhite his ambition to manage @IpswichTown one day 🚜

What do you make of this, #ITFC fans? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/689bsNQTjz

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 24, 2019

“And that club I know inside out, I know the training ground and I know the people there, I know everything about that club so I hope one day that day comes.”

Asked if the Blues fans were the best he played in front of during his career, he added: “I think because I stayed there the longest and I think I scored the most goals in my career at one club for them, they were great.”

Photo: TWTD

Jesney_Havoc added 15:55 - Apr 24 Got anything on tomorrow Shefki ?
9

Cheshire_Blue added 15:57 - Apr 24 Well he certainly couldn't be any worse than Messrs Keane, Jewell or Hurst.
12

wokingblue added 16:02 - Apr 24 We need characters like Shefki :-)
10

Keaneish added 16:12 - Apr 24 I'd be happy if i never saw Jim White's face again. The new Richard Keys.
1

itfchorry added 16:27 - Apr 24 Yes Please - Should have gone for him before Hurst
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66notout added 16:44 - Apr 24 Before Hurst? I'd say after Hurst as well. Or how about after Lambert if he's prepared to wait his turn. Seriously, I have met Shefki and he would be a great fit for our club at this moment in time. An absolute gentleman, he came through that interview with shining colours, especially when he said he wouldn't expect to stay in charge for very long if he was a manager unable to produce results.

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carsey added 17:02 - Apr 24 Like most I have great memories of Kuqi and much as I would love to see him return I would hate to see his memory tarnished if it didn't work out.
7

londontractorboy57 added 17:17 - Apr 24 Give it a go
0

TimmyH added 17:29 - Apr 24 Nope not for me just going down the same avenue as Hurst in my opinion (with maybe even less experience certainly in English football)...if Lambert doesn't work out I'd rather see Burley back in some capacity, what we don't need now are further managerial gambles!
4

Churchman added 17:38 - Apr 24 He understands the club and if PL goes, why not? He couldn't do much worse (MM aside of course) than 3 of the last 4 and there will hardly be a queue of decent candidates for the job. For entertainment value and that he wants to be here, unlike Mick, makes him worthy of a thought. That astonishing goal celebration still makes me smile.
1

therein61 added 17:39 - Apr 24 It would be unfair with his limited experience to try and sort out the mess our club is in although I appreciate his bond with the fans and never say die attitude so who knows in the future?
0

Ipswichbusiness added 17:46 - Apr 24 I would prefer Burley/Butcher. I fear that, unless there is significant change over the summer, we could find ourselves fighting relegation again next season.
2

Saxonblue74 added 17:51 - Apr 24 New manager talk? Come on, let's give Lambert a chance first! Enjoyed Kuqi whilst he was with us as a player but wouldn't consider him as management this early in his career. As for knowing the club inside out? He left us 14 years ago after rejecting the offer of a new contract!
9

PortmanTerrorist added 17:56 - Apr 24 I think PH got it wrong not engaging with Butcher, Wark, but especially Burley. Yes he would have been looking over his shoulder but Burley would not have allowed the farcical transfer policy. Shefqi would take the job on any basis and have a feeling it could work..... maybe with Burley in a role above to help with recruitment. Let's not also forget Burley has a good a record as anyone bringing youth through too. Wasted opportunity! Nevertheless PL can do all of this for sure.... Just mentioning it in case of the unthinkable and we struggling again at start of next season.

0

braveblue added 18:01 - Apr 24 He was the most enthusiastic about the job. And mastermind Evans did not even interview him. What a clown.
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LWNR2013 added 18:06 - Apr 24 All a bit irrelevant really...
1

Saxonblue74 added 18:19 - Apr 24 Braveblue, enthusiasm isn't a qualification I'm afraid! Experience, however is. Paul Lambert has it and will move our club forward. LWNR2013, yes totally irrelevant.
0

tractorboybig added 19:51 - Apr 24 saxon blue 74..all lambert has is the gift of the gab
4

Saxonblue74 added 20:23 - Apr 24 Time will tell Tractorboybig.
1

blueboy1981 added 20:58 - Apr 24 Shefki - great bloke, good player, genuine true blue. Let's hope one day he get's his wish - couldn't have got much less in the way of results than some names that spring to mind, that have kept the dugout seat warm.. Best Wishes Shefki.
2

66notout added 21:34 - Apr 24 therein61 added 17:39 - Apr 24 It would be unfair with his limited experience to try and sort out the mess our club is in although I appreciate his bond with the fans and never say die attitude so who knows in the future? Just did a bit of digging nd it seems Shefki is not so short on managerial experience as you seem to think. Managed three clubs in Finland - two apparently hired him to keep them in the top flight and his remit from the third club was to win promotion to their Premier League. The outcome was that he achieved all three targets he was set. And before you have a go at the standard of Finnish football I suspect it is at least on a par with England's third tier.

3

KiwiTractor added 09:15 - Apr 25 Can't do any worse
1

Razor added 10:44 - Apr 25 Saxon Blue----has not Lamby had a chance? OK see what he does in the summer but if he does not get off to a flying start I would be seriously looking at the situation.
0

Saxonblue74 added 17:12 - Apr 25 Razor, Lambert has only been able to work with what he inherited and in my opinion has done well to at least develop a brand of entertaining football. We all agree that he needs to improve things at the top end of the field, we see it and he's said it. He lost Freddie whilst on form, Lankester and Keane who to me looked to be improving. We need results obviously but he was tasked with making a silk purse from a sows ear. Just to create a feel good factor was a major undertaking and his efforts there should not be underestimated. Squad and results will come I've no doubt but not overnight. There is no quick fix for our squad, whoever the manager. Another change would disrupt things further, another backward step......in my opinion! A disaster such as this takes more than a January transfer window to fix.

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 21:30 - Apr 25 Personally, I would have given the job to Nash and Hogg last summer. If it doesn't work out with Lambert I would try them next. Move Dyer and Atem up to the U23s and see if we can get our own bootroom culture going.
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