Veteran boss Neil Warnock has been quizzed on the recent whispers that he could be interested in the Town manager’s job should it become vacant.

Rumours that Warnock would be a target should the Blues look for a new boss have been circulating since current incumbent Paul Lambert called his position into question at his press conference following the 0-0 Boxing Day draw with Gillingham at Portman Road.

However, it’s understood owner Marcus Evans has no plans to make a change at present and earlier today the club put out a statement from general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill to that effect.

Warnock, who knows Evans, has been spoken to about taking over at Town in the past, most notably after Roy Keane’s departure in 2012.

The 71-year-old, who plans to retire at the end of the season, is currently out of work having left Cardiff by mutual consent just over a month ago.

Asked about his plans on The Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT this morning Warnock said: “I always said that after Christmas I’d do something, I’m not bothered what level it is, I’ll do something to the end of the season, if it’s the right one, if it’s something that whets my appetite. She [wife Sharon] says I can go to the end of the season.”

Quizzed on links with the Town job, he added: “I think I get linked to everything, all managers do, don’t they? I think that’s how it is at the minute, they’re all talk and everything and you just don’t know.

“But, like I say, if the right thing comes up, I’m not really bothered what it is, I just want to enjoy myself to the end of the season really.”

Photo: TWTD

TimmyH added 12:14 - Dec 31 No thanks!...that's going back to McCarthyish ways again (though his track record is good at getting teams promoted from lower divisions other than this season) but his style of football would not be for all.
1

WhoisJimmyJuan added 12:15 - Dec 31 Nice idea but just paper talk. Would only be a sticking plaster to the end of the season anyway. Another manager who ends his managerial career on a low with Ipswich town.
1

SouperJim added 12:31 - Dec 31 Well that puts the cat firmly among the pidgeons for me. If Lambo can't address the slide, Warnock until the end of the season to get us up could be a very interesting punt. LONs comments would suggest they're not thinking that way, but we all know the dreaded vote of confidence isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
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TractorCam added 12:34 - Dec 31 TimmyH style of football is meaningless for the rest of the season, not getting promoted is HUGE and Warnock's record speaks for itself. I don't think Lambert will be going anywhere but shall we fail to pick up 3 points tomorrow this should seriously be considered.
8

ArnieM added 12:39 - Dec 31 He'd be here in a shot if offered the job . Wasn't it him that was interviewed , offered the job and was all set to take over but Town wouldn't pay the compensation to the Club he was with at the time ?
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blueboy1981 added 12:40 - Dec 31 At least he has a pair, and doesn't accept losing as an easy option. Expects everyone who pulls on a shirt for him to give no less than 100 % as he does himself, vastly experienced winner who probably should have been here previously. Too late in the day now though, but players would have to buck their ideas up under him. Just ask anyone who's played for him..... !! Would certainly make the best of the squad we have for sure, and promotion in his final season would be one hell of a temptation, and finale for him - food for thought, but maybe only that.

5

TimmyH added 12:44 - Dec 31 BUT if we appointed him and got us promoted would mean he would stay here...he is a McCarthyish style manager now 71 years old, he could sort out the short term problems but I can't see him doing anything further. Desperate times call for desperate measures (if this ever happened).
2

PortmanTerrorist added 12:56 - Dec 31 Lambert is a good enough manager to turn this around, but he himself needs to reboot the process. Work out his best team and mostly play them week in week out. We have not gotten worse, through the season, even average teams have found a rhythm, know where each other are, and are more 'team' than ITFC. Teams nearly ALWAYS best individuals ! However, Warnock, really ? So many options out there and would prefer Burley back, esp with the renewed youth policy, than Warnock who will likely unwind the longer term plan. Success should be achieved either way, but to repeat, PL can do this.....needs to start showing us NOW !

4

jas0999 added 13:16 - Dec 31 Looks like he just wants a job as a hobby until the end of the season, meaning we'd be back to square one again in May. The club needs stability and consistency.
4

blues1 added 13:39 - Dec 31 Jas0999. I get where ur coming from regards stability. But what would the real difference be between him coming in till the end of the season, then going, or lambert staying till end of the season, then if we not go up, leaving? Not saying it should happen, but might just be worth the gamble.
2

legoman added 13:42 - Dec 31 Wooooohoooo. Warnock with Shefty Kuchy as assist with view of taking the reins :). We so badly need some Grrrr Raagh F yeah attitude. No more depressing mumbling please otherwise the club is dead.
1

Houss542 added 13:44 - Dec 31 I don't get why Lambert is getting so much grief from everyone! Who else are we going to get of his quality to come manage us in league 1? The first manager we get linked with (who has tons of experience) everyone has a moan. Yes we've been on a bad run but every team does. Look at Man Utd, Arsenal this season, they're terrible this year! Lambert needs time and it's clear we need to sign a couple of players in January. Evans is 100% right to back him and if we don't go up this year then it gives us plenty of time to rebuild. Looking out our squad now, there's no way we could compete in the Championship, we'd get murdered.

3

SouperJim added 13:49 - Dec 31 PortmanTerrorist so no to Warnock, but you'd have the man who hasn't had a job for over 7 years since he was sacked by Apollon Limassol of Cyprus after only two games in charge?
3

blueboy1981 added 14:07 - Dec 31 Houss542 - what quality ? Lambert has failed ever since he left Norwich, as indeed he is now, great opportunity he has had with us to redeem himself. Other than having brought the Club ‘together' - early season good fortune running with us in terms of results, there is currently nothing to suggest we have made any actual pitch progress under him. Proof of the Xmas pudding is always in the eating - a good Manager produces, not just talk about how good he was, or who he played for. Wycombe will be his acid test - 100% improvement needed all round from him and the team based on recent results, to get a result there. And let's not forget - they are on a dismal run right now, and confidence will be low. Let's see more from you Lambert & Co - less talk, and prove your point.

4

blue75 added 14:11 - Dec 31 After all the abuse we used to give him as Sheff Utd manager about the crap football his teams played why would he want to come to town. His football would not sit well his character would be loved think we've been down that road with McCarthy look how that ended. And on top of that he's 71 & retiring at the end of the season what would be the point!!
0

strikalite added 14:16 - Dec 31 I'd have Warnock in a heartbeat, anyone who can get a Club out of the Championship into the Prem has something, and he did that at 70 years of age, incredible... the man knows players, formations etc like the back of his hand..
5

BlueandTruesince82 added 14:17 - Dec 31 He'd do a job but it wouldn't be a pretty one
2

Michael101 added 14:21 - Dec 31 Could Evans be thinking get him in till May ,get us in the championship and let chambers,skuse take over. Hope I'm wrong.
0

algarvefan added 14:35 - Dec 31 No, no, no, no..............and no some more. We need to build for a future, not short term gain.
3

monkeymagic added 14:56 - Dec 31 Promotion this season under Lambert looks 50/50 at best - with Warnock at the helm, I'd say it would be more like 80/20 in favour. Divisive character, style isn't easy on the eye but a proven winner. I think PL has 3-4 games to save his skin, I'd expect him to be sacked if we slip out of the top 6...
3

oldbri added 15:08 - Dec 31 sir Alex Fergusson coming out of retirement to manage Ipswich town. From a very good sause .You heard it here first. 4 months early but what the heck.
0

SheptonMalletBlue added 15:19 - Dec 31 I think Colin W@nker would be an excellent signing, he'd sort the men out from the pussies!!!!!
1

Dolphinblue added 15:24 - Dec 31 U lot are true comedy gold 🤣🤣🤣🤣...think yr so clever...everyone moaning about MM football and that it wouldnt even matter if we were relegated just get rid of boring football....now its yeah lets get Warnock even if football boring must get promoted...UTTER JOKE YOU LOT ARE 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 but you keep the dolphin amused...joke
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brazil1981 added 15:25 - Dec 31 Guaranteed promotion if he took over now! Don't think it PL will be sacked/walk out though so isn't going to happen!
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istanblue added 15:27 - Dec 31 I've been supportive of PL and am not calling for his head, but Warnock until the end of the season is very tempting indeed. A proven winner at this level who would probably get the most from the group of players we have. Yes, the football may be turgid at times but has the football of PL really been much better? One minute there are flashes of exciting football, the next utter dross. Obviously there are no guarantees in football but we would undoubtedly have a better chance of promotion under Warnock than Lambert, who has seemingly lost his managerial touch. People need to wake up and realise just how disastrous failing to achieve promotion would be. Firstly, most of our young and saleable assets would be poached (Downes, Woolfenden, Dozzell, maybe even KVY?). They would be replaced with journeymen, freebies and loans due to Evans' chronic lack of investment. We would also be unlikely to sign Garbutt on a permanent deal. The next manager who would then come in would likely be someone of a lesser calibre, as Ipswich would unlikely be seen as a potential top 2 team (ditto the calibre of player we would be able to attract as well). I fear we could then become a perennial League 1 team for years to come leading to lower and lower attendances. Some talk about the need for 'stability' with regard to Warnock retiring at the end of the season. I'd rather be 'unstable' in the Championship than 'stable' in League One!

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