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

Suffolkboy added 23:23 - Feb 28 Open house for the critics ! Seems we all know everything there might be to know about behind the scenes trouble, non performing players, non exercise of judgement in team selection , the need to get rid of players ! ALL a bit predictable and sad , what is IS ; it's fair to say PL did very little to endear himself after the early days ,and his communication skills were apparently limited ; his tactics and strategy puzzling ,and man management often seemingly lacking – alongside his own failing confidence ,for whatever reason there might be . Plainly,however ,there were insurmountable differences between he and ME , and we shan't be privy to those ,I think – at least not until any pay offs are resolved etc. It's another great shame for the Club whose interests we supporters have at heart ;let's hope for better results on the pitch and stability of ownership and management throughout in the days ahead .

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Countryboyblue added 23:29 - Feb 28 The club in its current state and ownership is a total embarrassment. I think it's fair to say Evans has made a dogs dinner of running this type of business. I feel for PL, let's hope he can go on and pick himself up, just like Mick did. All the very best to him. Now lets prey the takeover happens and put the last 13 years of Evans ownership behind us.
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TimmyH added 23:36 - Feb 28 Well if we do have a takeover although Paul Cook looks like a shoo-in I'd rather go bigger...if the new owners could pull in a big name like Lampard (long shot)...he's intelligent and a good motivator and did well at Derby with a lot of lads (to a degree with Chelsea) and would no doubt be connected to some good young players in the Premiership. Michael Appleton is a no for me...but that doesn't look like happening.

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ldnj added 23:48 - Feb 28 I hope they don't rush in to a new manager straight away. A bit of consistency with the "backroom boys" to build on the recent pefomrmances, rather than a new broom, might be good. Interesting point raised about the ladies team. Potential money earner over time and IF it is a US consortium the game is already big there so has further link up and commercial possibilities - potentially bringing more revenue to the club.

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aas1010 added 00:06 - Mar 1 Paul cook or frank lampard , even bit more extravagant Eddie Howe ,Thierry henry ( no chance there) no deffo frank lampard or Paul cook 👍👍il go Paul cook
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ITFC_Singapore added 00:08 - Mar 1 BEST DAY EVERRRRRRRRRRRR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Vanisleblue2 added 00:18 - Mar 1 I like Paul Lambert and think he did some good things for ITFC. Bringing the legends in to the fold... Appreciating the supporters in the early days....almost fighting the Norwich bench ;) I wish him well I truly do. I hope we get a Director of Football Operations as well as a Manager. Sorry Mr. Lee O'Neill ITFC is moving on and up (I hope) no room for mediocrity anymore.

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jollyroger added 00:26 - Mar 1 I wasnt like many on hear a Lambert lover , he didn't help himself with tactics , press meetings ,and his attitude but I wish the guy good luck in the future , I think he had towns best interest at heart . Now I hope Jackson and nolan are back in the squad tomorrow
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Dog added 00:32 - Mar 1 Looks like my marcus evans town shirt will be resigned to a gardening top in next couple of weeks. Whilst we needed a change, it seems like the same mistakes are being made. Marcus Evans takes over sacks Magilton and appoints own man. The new lot are doing the same. This will all end in tears as the club is in such turmoil. Most contracts are up in summer, too many loan players. Will the new owners invest in youth set up to the extent Evans has- i doubt it. They want to asset strip so does not sound like money for ground improvements. Dark times ahead in my opinion. Never trusted Evans due to milking of transfers and lack of investment, but perversely he is the right owner post covid has he kept the club afloat. Perhaps with his business being leisure orientated the available funds have run out as his income dries up. Totally blame Paul Hurst for all of this. He is the worst manager ever in clubs history. Totally out of his debt selling the best players and his recruitment for the championship lacked pace and ability. Dark but interesting times ahead. Ps - don't let Phil anywhere back at Portman Road. He has totally weaponised his reports to undermine a manager. He needs to clean up his act.

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DifferentGravy added 00:54 - Mar 1 Finally. How anyone can credit him for doing the same thing and expecting different results over the last 2+ years!?!? For being so negative in his play, for having players out of position, for continuously chopping the team around. For months and months a number of us fans had been screaming for two up top....or at the very least.....more players in the box, more attacking intent. We were baffled by the constant rotation and the endless excuses (fans in the stadium/fans not in the stadium/young kids playing/injuries/too many games/not played for a while/cant play 4-4-2). The change to tactics/formation seemed blatantly obvious.....except to Lambert. Just when the clamour for his removal had reached fever pitch.......he finally gave in......Parrott was playing almost alongside Norwood....we varied our style.....we attacked.....we stuck with the same 11.....oh what a surprise....we played better and won. Clearly we did have the players capable of beating top 10 teams. The fans could see it, ex players could see it, the papers could see it........yet Lambert was the one being paid handsomely and did nothing until it was almost too late. So no.......no credit from me....so mark me down....i couldnt give a toss.....coz it turned out that those of us unhappy with his tactics were right. I dont know Lambert personally so wish him no ill feeling. Opinion was based purely on his ability as a manager and what was happening on the pitch that he could influence. Rant over. COYB

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KernewekBlue added 02:33 - Mar 1 So, Paul Lambert has departed and a new face is waiting in the wings to take over (according to Sky Sports News) and may have been biding his time since being sounded out in January... football really is a cutthroat business with little room for sentiment. If Paul Cook does take over the hot seat in the next few days, I'll wish him all the best and a lot of luck in his fight to get us promoted back up the league tables... he's going to need it. When Lambert exits, 10% of the problem will have been sorted... the remaining 90% of the problem is Marcus Evans. Whilst he's still at the helm, there isn't a manager on the face of the planet who could turn things around at Town! In my opinion, Evans has been the biggest disaster our club has ever had to face. He may have ploughed a sizeable amount of his own money into the club but he has allied that with a huge raft of atrocious decisions which nullified that investment. He has proven to be inept beyond belief, has greatly damaged this club and sent it racing back to the stone age. Whilst Paul Lambert was probably not the right man for the ITFC job and had, it seems, really started to lose the plot of late, I do feel a little sorry for managers (in general) who always have to carry the majority of the burden of failure when the blame should be apportioned more fairly. Evans should take a good, hard look at himself and be honest about his own failings, which has seen our club plummet to new depths of despair. I, for one, can't wait to hear that he is no longer associated with our club. Regarding the possible change of ownership, like others posting here, I am a little perturbed that our beloved ITFC could fall into the hands of a foreign consortium, who's main priority may not be to watch the club flourish but rather to make a quick profit on their investment. The mention that much of the finance for this proposed takeover deal would come from a US based police and fire dept. pension fund is quite a worrying aspect. I'll just have to hope that my initial fears are unfounded and unrealised. Let us all hope that any new owners have the best interests of the club as their main priority. Whatever happens next, it is a new chapter in the story of Ipswich Town Football Club and I'll be praying that it is one full of aspiration and growing success. Amen!

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Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:36 - Mar 1 about damn time although after the recent improvement in results I would have expected him to be in position for a little while longer. Wanted to leave on a high ? Not sure you can call it that but his behavior has been puzzling for the last few games. Obviously had something planned and now he's gone through with it. Not the first club he's walked away from either. Not going to say anything over derogatory towards Lambert as he's no longer our problem. Enough of the fanbase will however realize he simply wasn't up to standard and it's a relief more than anything he no longer has association with the club name. Jewell, Keane, Magilton even, Hurst, McCarthy, Lambert once last time, they all tried and failed here, and who orchestrated those appointments ? Yeah Marcus Evans and no other. Can only hope the latter follows the manager out and away from the club set-up but we got further issues to address in the not too distant future. Need to take things a step at a time without looking too far ahead.

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shakytown added 05:12 - Mar 1 I wonder if Gil has actually been in charge for longer than we think or they are saying. All of a sudden we go from 4-5 changes every game to playing the same team for 3 games in a row which was very un Lambert like. Either way and whoever the new manger is i hope they can do better on Evans shoestring budget. The one thing i agree with Lambert on is that major changes are needed at ITFC.

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superdicksy added 05:53 - Mar 1 Feel that lambert lost job for being honest Wish him all the best 4 the future
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Help added 06:22 - Mar 1 Gill and Walker to continue to manage games, and this has nothing to do with any takeover.
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Saxonblue74 added 06:30 - Mar 1 Superdicksy, I think he was honest about everything with the exception of matters on the pitch....which was his department! I have to wonder about the timing of this, and my theory is as follows. Lambert had his hand forced into a change of tactics as his were clearly not working. Everyone could see this apart from him. Pressure was put on him to return to the Blackpool set up and it returned a very unexpected 7 points from 9 against potential promotion rivals. This bruised his very sizeable ego, and proved to Evan's that the problem on the pitch was indeed Lamberts tactical incompetence.....the final nail. May be (and probably is!) way off the mark, but why now? Don't get me wrong, I do believe it's the right decision. I am however confused as to what this tells us about the potential takeover which on the surface of it looks quite exciting, but does concern me greatly as to where it may take our club in the future.

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Dolphinblue added 06:46 - Mar 1 Rip itfc
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cat added 06:58 - Mar 1 Common sense has prevailed at last, which at this stage is a bonus as promotion is still possible. You only have to look at the win percentages to realise this can only good for ITFC.
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martin587 added 07:06 - Mar 1 Well I didn't expect that on Sunday night.Whatever was said between Evans And PL must have hit a nerve somewhere.I just hope all this doesn't affect the team as we are now on a good run.The next week will be very interesting.I was never a PL fan but I wish him all the best.
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BrandonsBlues added 07:13 - Mar 1 Okay, thoughts go like this. ME is selling. New owners do not want PL so agreement is that PL goes under Evans and not by them as part of the buyout agreement? PL may have been (partially) truthful in his opinion of the club or what was going on in the background. Vented his spleen openly and it has cost him his job? Gill and Walker were given responsibility for the first team and results improved, PL looses job? ME is not selling and all or a combination of the above resulted in PL sacking? New owners will appoint new manager after takeover, in interim Gill and walker to continue to manage first team? ME appoints new manager and remains in control of club? Thoughts

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therein61 added 07:40 - Mar 1 Well you came in with good intentions and built bridges with the fans you had very good starts last and this season but when it went wrong you couldn't find a way(until a few recent displays)to put it right as you said yourself you are in a results driven business and it hasn't worked for you here, therefore a parting of the ways had to be the solution i wish you well in the future.

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davetheblue added 07:42 - Mar 1 Yeah I don't get why evans would bother sacking him if we were getting new owners. And paying lambert big pay off Surely they would just come in and make the change.
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grow_our_own added 07:43 - Mar 1 Good news. But if the candidates being bandied around are accurate, Evans is yet again selecting from a failed category: an experienced journeyman manager. Another hand-picked yes man rather than what has worked everytime in the past: a former player. Such a candidate will have loyalties other than to him and know what makes this club tick. Evans needs to swallow his pride or wait for the takeover for someone competent to choose. Kieron Dyer (& Terry Butcher) should be caretakers, not Matt Gill, who is also tainted by association with the failed former first-team staff. Evans can't choose a manager for toffee and this is why we're the worst, most underperforming club in English football. History looks like repeating.

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planetblue_2011 added 07:44 - Mar 1 He's gone thought he would of hung it out!! Take over must be edging nearer. Happy days😀
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feelinblue added 07:52 - Mar 1 Alas, I don't think this has anything to do with any possible takeover as we all know how long and protracted these deals take. I wouldn't be surprised if Celtic spoke to him about the position and it was an offer he couldn't refuse. I must admit since his tenure started I never felt he was the right manager to move Ipswich forward, not that I knew who could with the limited funds and ME at the helm. As for replacements I'd love to see someone like Eddie Howe, young, ambitious and used to working on tight budgets in the early days with Bournemouth. May be a stretch too far having had such a period of time in the premier league. What ever happens let's hope it's not a case of “better the devil you know”.

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