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

BathwickBlue added 22:09 - Feb 28 watching Gill and Jimmy (goalie coach) dishing out all the instructions makes me believe Lambert was told to take a back seat by Evans on Thursday. Move him aside and avoid a big payout. Obviously this did not go down well and hence the leaving by mutual consent. I've got absolutely no proof of this but it really stood out to me when watching the dugout from the live feed from the Doncaster game. Lambert was just standing there looking cold. Wouldn't be surprised if Gill is there to end of season, he clearly has respect of players and Evans

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TractorFrog added 22:10 - Feb 28 Thank you, Paul Lambert, for the last few years. Overall, it was probably time for him to go, but Lambert has done some good things for the club. The signings of Judge, Norwood, Holy and Vincent-Young have been excellent, and he successfully kept hold of the likes of Downes. Thank you, Paul Lambert, and I wish you well in the future.
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PMK added 22:10 - Feb 28 If this take over does go through I wonder if we could tempt Eddie Howe??
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BangaloreBlues added 22:11 - Feb 28 Thank Lord Shiva. Time to put this behind and look forward.
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eddiespearitt03 added 22:11 - Feb 28 What an out and out failure Evans has been. If only he head hunted and recruited the right players . Totally ignorant to what constitutes progress and how the football industry works. Fell victim to many football journeymen who are just parasites and kept the faith with some very very average players at this club. One manager after another. A catalog of mistakes and ridiculous decisions. Even with the take over i,m still not entirely sure how safe this club is. It has been picked to death so far.

4

BrandestonBlue added 22:14 - Feb 28 Wikipedia for Paul Cook showing manager of Ipswich Town 2021 😂
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aas1010 added 22:19 - Feb 28 🥳
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Robert_Garrett added 22:25 - Feb 28 Bring back Mighty Mick!!!
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Edmundo added 22:25 - Feb 28 Only good news if we get the crook out too, start with football people who love ITFC and want us to play the Ipswich way.
0

scooby added 22:28 - Feb 28 If I found out any of my pension was being used to bankroll a football club I would pull out of it ASAP
3

Len_Brennan added 22:28 - Feb 28 Whatever the full truth behind the sacking is, it's in the best interests of the club. 2 big wins in the last week, but I still had little confidence in Lambert's management & tactics to keep it going. A win against Lincoln & in our game in hand and we are only 4 points of an automatic spot; a tough ask to finish in the top 2, but it shows we still have it all to play for.

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brianbull added 22:29 - Feb 28 I think Paul Lambert was a good guy but crap manager. I think he's done well to highlight some problems at Ipswich but his time has run out. I do think though that even Pep Guardiola would struggle managing here because the main problem is our invisible owner and his lack of investment. Let's just hope he has seen the light too and sells up
7

USA added 22:31 - Feb 28 I suspect Paul gave too much away in his post match interview. Too open about the situation. I do feel he has been upfront with speaking about the lack of investment and Evans has had enough.
6

itfchorry added 22:36 - Feb 28 Time to hit the ground running - Put behind these last dreadful years - One down - one to go 💙
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:40 - Feb 28 not surprised the past couple of weeks statements and'' meetings'' were obviously leading up to something happening. Suddenly everything is about to change, would say for better or for worse ,but.things surely couldnt have got much worse, in all my time of supporting ITFC [SINCE 1965] ive never seen things so bad at the club. So lets all hope this is the turning point and we can move onwards and upwards.

13

runaround added 22:45 - Feb 28 Shame it didn't work out for Lambert at ITFC but 100% the correct decision for him to go. One problem is sorted now the second problem is to get this takeover done to replace Evans as major shareholder as it is obvious club will not improve with him in charge
8

Bert added 22:52 - Feb 28 The inevitable has happened and we await what is in store regarding the ownership of our club. Always better to depart with mutual consent but would love to know what really has been said. All I care about is that the club can progress with a manager that understands what is required, motivates the players and we can return to being a club that we all want to belong to. ITFC js not a cash cow but it has a heritage and fan base that can be built upon with sound leadership. The next chapter unfolds.

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dirtydingusmagee added 22:55 - Feb 28 Feel a bit sorry for Lambert ,because he had on more than one occasion pointed out the problems,but as has happened in past Evans did nothing, Evans has ALWAYS been the main reason for the club failing, but unlike Lambert [until recently] he hides away deflecting all incoming fire with his shield [O'Neil]. Lambert has been drowning ,and Evans was not going to save him .Lambert had to go,but for anything to change Evans has to go too.

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truthhurts added 23:00 - Feb 28 So i guess we can assume this potential takeover is getting closer? On one level, very exciting and much needed. On another. Don't want to be a Bolton or, worse, Bury. Time will tell...
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coolcat added 23:00 - Feb 28 Just as well. Too many inconsistencies. Wasn't right for Ipswich - and to use a phrase I tend to avoid - end of. He just wasn't.
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chopra777 added 23:04 - Feb 28 We all had a love hate relationship with him. But at least he gave us hope before he left. Good luck Paul in your next venture.
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PSGBlue added 23:05 - Feb 28 Two best results in this league since relegation and Paul gets the chop, I do feel slightly sorry for him. But his record speaks for itself and with the ever souring relationship with the press, it is time to go. It puzzles me slightly to why Evans would sack him as it will now be Evans who pays out the remainder of Paul's contract or whatever settlement had been agreed. Why not let the new owners do this. It's like putting in a new kitchen just before you sell your house. Which would suggest a new manager has been lined up for a while. Good luck Paul, I suppose you tried your best. But on this occasion your best wasn't good enough. Onwards to the next Paul. Paul Cooper anyone?

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DaGremloid added 23:13 - Feb 28 If what we are being told is true how can so many of you be happy about another 'no-name' manager coming in!!! This club needs - deserves even - a big name manager with a decent track record. We're a big club. We shouldn't be where we are so we need somebody who knows what they're doing, not some bang average guy like the last two who's been managing Mickey Mouse FC all his career. Paul Cook??? FFS.

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Bert added 23:14 - Feb 28 ...... something else to ponder is the women's' side of our club. It has the potential to go far and a shrewd owner should see this and invest in the set up. The returns will not be great for some years but the prestige in matching some of the other clubs has a value in itself. Ok, this would be secondary to what is needed right now but worth a punt.
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TimmyH added 23:18 - Feb 28 A bit sad how it all ended...Paul Lambert's record here wasn't good enough, whether he left due to the imminent take over and a new boss was to be appointed or if it was a case of a fall out with Evans in the last few weeks due to things being said to the media is yet to be seen, personally I believe it will be the former. This will be interesting to see how the players react on the pitch...I'm not sure all this speculation and possible change of owner and a new manager will help as we head into the real business end of the season.

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