Town have announced that manager Paul Lambert has left the club by mutual consent along with his assistant Stuart Taylor.

“I would like to put on record my sincere thanks to Paul and Stuart for their services to Ipswich Town over the last two and a half years,” Town owner Marcus Evans told the club website.

“I have enjoyed a healthy working relationship with Paul in our time together and he has brought a lot of positive aspects to the club.

“It has, however, become clear after holding discussions over the last few days that there are significant differences of opinion as to the order of immediate priorities and we agreed it was best for us to part company. I would like to wish both Paul and Stuart the best in the future.”

TWTD understands first-team coach Matt Gill, who has taken a more prominent role in recent weeks, is set to take charge of Tuesday's game at Accrington as caretaker-manager working alongside other members of the club's existing staff.

Lambert took charge of the Blues in October 2018 following Paul Hurst’s disastrous short time in charge.

In his first season he failed to prevent the club from being relegated to the third tier for the first time since 1956/57.

Despite this, Lambert’s initial moves to heal the rift with fans which had developed during the Mick McCarthy era saw him receive the backing of supporters despite results not having improved.

After a promising start in League One, Town’s season drifted away and the Blues ended the curtailed settled-on-points-per-game campaign 11th.

Midway through that season, with the cracks already beginning to show and fans by now less enthused by his management, Lambert was controversially handed a new five-year contract.

This season also started brightly before the Blues similarly slid into mid-table with relationships breaking down both inside and outside the club.

Jon Nolan and Kayden Jackson were banished to train with the U23s, while TWTD’s Phil Ham was banned from press conferences and relationships with the rest of the media were frosty with Lambert often sending other members of his coaching staff to meet the press.

Fans have become ever more frustrated by his management with demonstrations led by fans’ group Blue Action - who met with Lambert in the early days to discuss improving Portman Road’s atmosphere and whose pin badge the boss wore at a number of press conferences - becoming increasingly frequent and gaining greater media prominence.

Overall, Lambert’s record with the Blues reads played 113, won 37, drew 28, lost 48, a win percentage of 32.74.

Lambert's departure comes as no surprise with the manager himself having said on Saturday that it was 99.9 per cent certain he would leave if the ongoing US-backed takeover went through. We understand he told players Saturday's 2-1 home victory over Doncaster was likely to be his last game in charge prior to kick-off.

Lambert and Evans are understood to have exchanged cross words at a meeting at Portman Road on Thursday and it’s believed that there was a similar mood to a phone call on Friday.

Former Portsmouth, Wigan and Chesterfield boss Paul Cook has been tipped to become the Blues’ boss as part of the takeover and we understand the 54-year-old has indeed been sounded out regarding the role.

Ex-Town winger Gary Roberts is believed to be being eyed for a position on the coaching staff at Cook’s next club. The 36-year-old is currently a player with Tuesday’s opponents Stanley.

When and whether Cook’s appointment is confirmed remains to be seen with the consortium also believed to be keen on Lincoln boss Michael Appleton, although having signed a new four-year deal at Sincil Bank earlier in the week the 45-year-old may now be out of the running.

In January TWTD reported that Cook had been contacted by current owner Evans regarding the vacancy. Evans is also understood to have spoken to a number of other managers in recent months including ex-Millwall and Cardiff boss Neil Harris and former Huddersfield and Lincoln boss Danny Cowley.

As reported towards the end of the week, the incoming consortium is closing in on taking charge of the club in a £30 million deal with some sources suggesting the takeover could be completed within a couple of weeks, although these matters can drag on due to red tape such as EFL ratification.

While Los Angeles-based businessman Brett Johnson, a leading figure at US clubs Phoenix Rising and FC Tucson, has entered the spotlight after following Town’s Twitter account, we understand the 51-year-old is just one of a number of investors with former West Brom chief executive officer Mike O'Leary believed to be the leading figure.

O'Leary is close to Bristol City chief executive Mark Ashton, a former board member at West Brom and one-time goalkeeper with the Baggies, who is understood to have been ear-marked for the same position at Town.

Robins head of operations/club secretary Luke Werhun is also believed to be wanted by the new set-up. However, there is no confirmation that either will be leaving Ashton Gate.

Ashton and O’Leary were previously part of a group which staged a takeover at Oxford United in 2014, with Appleton, a former West Brom player and caretaker-boss, having been manager.

Johnson, O’Leary and Ashton are directors of a company called Gamechanger 20, which was formed last year and is believed to be the vehicle for facilitating the takeover.

Also among the other directors of Gamechanger 20 is Berke Bakay, principal owner, governor and co-chairman of Phoenix Rising, who made his money from Kona Grill, a restaurant chain.

TWTD understands that much of the financial backing for the takeover will come from the pension fund for the fire and police services of a so-far unnamed US state.

Photo: Matchday Images

brendenward35 added 21:36 - Feb 28 Anyone thought maybe PL questioned ME about selling to a US consortium putting the club into the wrong hands that's where they had their differences? Only saying but glad his gone as subbing 5 players yesterday nearly lost us the game
4

Lightningboy added 21:38 - Feb 28 NOT Appleton. FFS get “this” appointment right.
3

BeattiesBackPocket added 21:39 - Feb 28 Arc why Kieran dyer? I love the guy but we really need someone who will come in that has the ability to kick some players up the arse when needing to I don't see that being him. Part one of two bits of good news this week because however inept Lambert was the owner is even more inept. Lambert WAS right about the structure being wrong at the club from scouting, relationships with fans, anonymous owner, attitude of players etc etc the fact that evans doesn't feel what lamberts said or wanted is right is a huge concern unless a new owner is coking in and that was the first piece of that jigsaw

11

algarvefan added 21:43 - Feb 28 Glad he is no longer in charge, sad that after 2 good wins we are entering a period of considerable disruption, which may upset the apple cart. Not getting carried away with this, there is much wrong at Town and it plainly wasn't just Lambert that was the problem. Hope Matt can steady the ship and that everything turns out to be good for the club. The potential take over now looks to be very important. COYB!!!

6

madmouse1959 added 21:44 - Feb 28 THE HARD WORK BEGINS. !!! Now we need to think about next seasons squad to get promotion automatically. A bunch of tired players released and recruitment of players who want success.
7

Lightningboy added 21:44 - Feb 28 @Pencilpete Here here 👏🏻 I for one wish Paul all the best Shame it didn't work..the ”Lambo” banner was probably the high point..unfortunately there've been far too many low points on the pitch..off the pitch our owner/new owners needs to get this next appointment right.
11

Swailsey added 21:46 - Feb 28 Good riddance to the worst manager we have ever had!
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matthewwylds added 21:47 - Feb 28 Thank you to the few lads who protested the other week 👏🏻👏🏻Get in happy days
-8

blueboy1981 added 21:48 - Feb 28 A shame it didn't work out for any of us after a bright start to Lambert's tenure, however we will at some point soon see where the big problem is, getting thro' Managers at this rate is not the Ipswich Town way. Something has to change and at this moment it seems that each Manager has the same problems at the Club. Is that telling us something ? - or have we just been unlucky with appointments ? There will be sarcastic comments on here, but I personally wish both Lambert and Taylor well for the future - they will both have done ok out if our Club I feel !! Time to move on to better times, lets just hope the genuine interest and intention is there to do so whoever the current or future Owner/s are.

21

KiwiBlue2 added 21:48 - Feb 28 Well the smoke signals over the past week or two have finally revealed some fire. I would prefer an English consortium to an American one which may not have the same degree of commitment and am concerned by the mention of the purchase being funded, at least in part, by a pension fund. I am thankful not to be a contributor to that fund if that news is true. At least if it is funded by the English group mentioned there will be some appreciation of the clubs history and a desire to get the club performing again. I am cautiously optimistic, especially if they have some money to spend on players to take us forward.......coyb

9

bluearmy4life added 21:50 - Feb 28 Oh my word!! Never saw this coming tonight! Onwards and upwards.
5

BlueandTruesince82 added 21:51 - Feb 28 Mutal consent, sounds like Evans saved himself a bit of dough with the payoff. Exciting times.
1

heathen66 added 21:51 - Feb 28 I think this is very much over due. Personally I would look at the Cowley boys, however for this to work we need to rid ourselves of players who do not want to better themselves, or are unable to better themselves. We have far too many players content yo just sit here and keep picking up a handsome wage for L1 football, who struggle in L1 let alone the championship. Some players have far too much influence and that has to stop. We want a new manager with new ideas, not the usual run of the mill old school manager setting up not to lose...and hopefully sneaking a result now and again. We have had 7 years of that with very little success. Would still like to see us go abroad ... say Maurice Steijn or similar !!!

1

eddiespearitt03 added 21:51 - Feb 28 Forget "Fat Cats"......ask "Top Cat" There are a few problems to sort out first regarding the money being siphoned from a USA police pension fund. There are rumors that a protest is going to be held after "Officer Dibble" has raised an investigation.
0

warktheline added 21:54 - Feb 28 Manager wise extremely poor! Began to show his negative tendencies of late, in regards to ‘man management' of players! One thing I will thank Lambert for, is him highlighting would an awful state this club is in under the ownership of Evans.....time to go Evans! Well outstayed most ‘proper thinking supporters' welcome!
13

Northstandveteran added 21:54 - Feb 28 Surely we Ipswich fans deserve a break after years of suffering? Surely we deserve a successful owner and manager? Surely this has to be our time? Surely?
27

midlandblue54 added 21:56 - Feb 28 Think alarm bells were sounding as Paul Cook being linked with Sheffield Wed
3

BeattiesBackPocket added 21:57 - Feb 28 PencilPete well said 👏🏻 Despite us not doing well I wish lambert luck to be honest one thing he did initially was galvanise the fans back on the side of the club again unfortunately it didn't work longer it went on but not necessarily all his fault
10

ArnieM added 21:58 - Feb 28 Is this just another sacking ( coz Lamber5 wouldn't toe the line re “ infrastructure “) or is in preparation for this reported take over! Pleased he's gone ...but really want this take over to be real and happen.
2

DebsyAngel added 21:59 - Feb 28 Good news :) Onwards and upwards! Good luck to Paul Cook - let's hope this Paul will do the business!!
2

Timefliesbyintheblue added 21:59 - Feb 28 Pencilpete; I hope you receive many 'up' votes. Genuine, decent supporters of our club will share your sentiments.
3

chepstowblue added 22:02 - Feb 28 Well I'm certainly more pleased than disappointed, and it suggests that the takeover news is more than just a lazy headline. Whilst it doesn't guarantee success or the better times that we all crave, hopefully it's a step in the right direction. God help us if this time next season we're commenting on here that we...."should have stuck with Lambert"!!
2

Sixto6 added 22:02 - Feb 28 Although I'm never happy to think that Ipswich have sacked a manager, Lamberts departure was well overdue ! The only worrying aspect of this is that it seems based on PL and ME differences rather than the rumoured takeover. Evans is the problem so any new manager is similarly going to struggle with absolutely no money to improve the squad ! Paul Cook followed by a takeover PLEASE ! COYB

3

grumpyoldman added 22:05 - Feb 28 With the record PL has in management as Simon Jordan said on the radio the other day “he must interview well”
7

TractorRoyNo1 added 22:08 - Feb 28 Hallelujah
2

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