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

Bluroo added 09:32 - Mar 1 Obv Lambert had to go but hiring Paul Cook will just be another terrible choice to join a long list of others. He clearly doesn't have the pedigree we need. He's just a lower leagues journeyman.
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blues1 added 09:36 - Mar 1 Mickmillstash. Then guess ur gonna be disappointed again then, as paul cook played for norwich too, albeit just 6 games, 32 years ago. Presumably u didnt like Joe Royle neither.
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blues1 added 09:39 - Mar 1 Bluroo. In case u hadnt noticed, we're in the lower leagues. And that's not gonna change just bcse of a takeover. If there is one. Paul cook is a good manager, with 3 promotions on his cv. Just the kind of manager we need right now. But guessing ur one of those who think we could attract a pl manager to the club( in lge1). We have to be realistic, and cook is the ideal choice right now

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MonkeyAlan added 09:56 - Mar 1 Good luck Lambert, you were never the answer, but at least you have shown Evans up for what he is. We all knew it, but it's nice to get confirmation. I find it odd that Evans got rid now. Why not leave it to this new lot? Or isn't he selling after all? Worrying times either way. Not sure l want Americans owning us either.
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mg415 added 09:58 - Mar 1 Eddie Howe
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StavangerBlue added 10:01 - Mar 1 Thank you, Paul Lambert (and staff), for everything you have done for the club. I wish you all and your families the best and good luck in your next adventure. This is a pivotal moment for the club. Let us all hope that decisions are made with the best intentions.
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dirtydingusmagee added 10:06 - Mar 1 think its obvious the sacking is over what what was said ,not because of takeover, [which is still not finalised]. Lambert obviously told Evans a few home truths and it didnt go well.Otherwise , with two decent wins under his belt , an outside chance of playoffs and no replacement ,it would not make sense at this moment in time .
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Sparkerino added 10:09 - Mar 1 If TWTD is right, and much of the financial backing DOES come from a pension fund for the fire & police services, well I can't see that being a match made in heaven. Football investors need to be brave and adventurous - pension funds the complete opposite
4

Cheshire_Blue added 10:10 - Mar 1 But will a new manager and new owners satisfy the keyboard warriors and for how long ? How many times have we been here before ? .............And Mick McCarthy marches on towards the Premier League ! His football may not be pretty but does he get results.
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TimmyH added 10:15 - Mar 1 Well a 'Lam' might very well get the Celtic job...wouldn't at all surprise me if it's Lampard though, you can see it now Lampard v Gerrard. I think Cook would be an okay appointment I just think we should be linked to others.
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Bluroo added 10:15 - Mar 1 Blues1 I remember all those fans who were behind the hiring of Hurst and Lambert who don't mention that when peacocking on here that they know all there is to know about football recently... The game is changing in terms of sports science, strategy and resources. We need someone younger with a more dynamic outlook than a tubby middle aged coach. Considering Lambert was a premier league manager your argument regarding affordability is rather dense. However I'm not calling for a premier league manager but someone who can preside over a new era and a new modern way of doing things.

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Nesspointrunner added 10:19 - Mar 1 Be careful what you wish for. We are not being taken over by a benign set of Cobbolds. But a ruthless organisation that if they could save 2p by moving the club to play at Carrow Road then they will.
2

Razor added 10:25 - Mar 1 Hopefully the takeover will be completed this week and this will give us the money to get the one quality manager out there----EDDIE HOWE. This can be a massive club again in the right hands, off and on the pitch and now is the chance to do do it. I think you will find that Maricans do not hang around and will put experienced men at the helm to guide us back----exciting times!! Finally a big thank you to Lambert who actually put this club back together again after the previous incumbent virtually destroyed it single hand.

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dyersdream added 10:30 - Mar 1 hopefully is evans goes lee o'neil will do too
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Bert added 10:34 - Mar 1 I don't know enough about Paul Cook to comment but I do hope that Evans or the incoming consortium are doing their homework. Out of interest can someone tell me why my comments about investing in the women's' game at ITFC is apparently not finding favour? Just asking.
1

62WasBest added 10:34 - Mar 1 It all begs the question as to what specifically were the differing "immediate priorities" that Lambert and Evans held. That would be very revealing, but we will never find out as I think ME would be left with too much egg on his face.
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shaunmahony added 10:47 - Mar 1 Looks like after last week's outburst by Lambert he had become a "loose cannon" in Evans' eyes - the last thing you need in the background when doing a sensitive deal to sell the club
1

SickParrot added 11:11 - Mar 1 Very happy that Lambert has gone but puzzled by the timing. If a takeover is close why would Evans pay off Lambert now when he could let the new owners pick up the bill? Unless the takeover is conditional on Evans getting rid of Lambert first?
1

Ipswichbusiness added 11:37 - Mar 1 I have no sympathy for Lambert or Taylor. They failed to prevent relegation. Despite having a large squad, they turned us into a mid-table League 1 team with little prospect of automatic promotion. Lambert was said to be on a salary of £550k. I have not seen his contract, but I would expect him to be in line for substantial severance pay. Whatever you think of the owner, Lambert should not have been publicly blaming him for what was wrong (those arguments should have remained private). At least the new man, if appointed promptly, will have a good opportunity to assess the squad and who he wants to keep and lose in the summer (remember that many contracts expire then.) I hope that when appointing the new man we also look closely at who his assistant will be and not have a repeat of the Lambert without Culverhouse fiasco.

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londontractorboy57 added 12:22 - Mar 1 So yet again the numbskull fans have wished for something I hope we get better than last time. To be delighted at changing manager and all the upheavals that brings whilst on the cusp of the playoffs makes no sense to me.
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Bluroo added 12:45 - Mar 1 Amusing that PR Paul tried to make us all believe he was only going because of a takeover and not the results. Quite humiliating to be sacked despite an imminent takeover. Hahaha
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istanblue added 13:00 - Mar 1 About 9 months too late. Nevertheless, this is the first step in the salvation of ITFC. The crucial next step is getting rid of Evans and his puppets who have been slowly destroying this club for years. #EvansOut #MIGA
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Marinermagic added 13:22 - Mar 1 That's it now then the lunatics are running the asylum!
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mib added 13:53 - Mar 1 B*****t chrissmailes, your ignorant mate was the worst of all managers, would much prefer Lambert. I do think that Lambert would have got it right had he had some support from our under investing owner.
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62WasBest added 14:13 - Mar 1 In my eyes, Lambert was doomed at the beginning of last season when he said that we'd begin the season with targets on our backs. Hardly a ringing "call to arms" to inspire the players. He may have said it to dull fans expectations (he managed to live down to that one!) when really he should have been building up the confidence of the squad.
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