Town have announced that goalkeeper-coach Jimmy Walker is leaving the club with immediate effect with Blues boss Paul Cook set to recruit a replacement.

In the meantime academy keeper-coach Carl Pentney will temporarily work with the club's first-team glovesmen.

“I have thanked Jimmy for his work at the club,” Cook told the club website. “I explained to him that I just want to look to freshen things up right across the board.

“Jimmy knows the game and change often happens in football when a new manager takes over. I want to wish him all the best for the future.

“Carl will work with the keepers for now and we will immediately begin the process of looking for the right person to come in and join the staff.”

Cook's Wigan goalkeeper-coach Nick Colgan, who had a brief spell with Town as a player without making a senior appearance, is currently working at Nottingham Forest.

Walker's departure leaves first-team coach Matt Gill as the only remaining member of Lambert's staff still at the club.

Cook brought in Gary Roberts as another first-team coach, while U23s coach Kieron Dyer has played an increasing role with the senior side since Cook took over, the new manager having been impressed by the former England international's coaching abilities.

Leam Richardson, Cook's assistant at Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan, has been linked with a move to the Blues in the summer, however, appears increasingly likely to be offered the Wigan's manager's job. Richardson is currently interim-boss of the Latics.

We understand former Blues central defender John McGreal, who played alongside Cook at Tranmere, is also in contention for a role at Portman Road.

Walker joined the club in November 2018 following Paul Lambert’s appointment as manager having been working at Sunderland.

The 47-year-old had played for Lambert during a loan spell at Colchester United during 2008/09, making 16 appearances.

The Sutton-in-Ashfield-born keeper began his playing career at Notts County before a long spell with Walsall where he made his name - making 404 of his total of 483 league starts plus two sub appearances - and secured a Bosman free move to West Ham in the summer of 2004.

Having played for the Hammers in play-off semi-finals against the Blues in his first season at Upton Park, he joined Tottenham in September 2009, before returning to Walsall - where he added another 50 league starts - prior to stints with Peterborough and Lincoln.

Walker, who is based in Stamford, began his coaching career with Posh in 2013 before moving on to Gillingham and then the Imps during their 2016/17 Vanarama National League championship campaign, in which they beat the Blues in the FA Cup, before joining new Sunderland’s staff that summer.

Photo: Matchday Images

dyersdream added 15:50 - Apr 15 Am i right in thinking Huws has already gone ??
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Cloddyseedbed added 15:55 - Apr 15 dyersdream. If he hasn't he should have done. That is another of life's mysteries at ITFC! The club has been full of mysterious under achievements.
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90z added 16:12 - Apr 15 I think Huws has another big injury as to why we aint seen him for weeks. And has been told he will be released.
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therein61 added 16:40 - Apr 15 The first swing off Cooks wrecking ball to sort this club out, he has in the past with coaches of his choice shown he can build teams to succeed, and with backing from the new owners will do the same here.
6

istanblue added 17:18 - Apr 15 Maybe the new guy will teach Holy to actually move.
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jas0999 added 17:20 - Apr 15 Huge changes needed, so this is a positive first step with more to come.
2

SickParrot added 18:03 - Apr 15 If Jimmy Walker can drive a bus he could take 20+ players with him
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surgery added 18:31 - Apr 15 Posters have said that this is the worst group of “players” to have ever disgraced our club. I think it's probably the worst group of “players” ever assembled at any professional club
1

therein61 added 18:35 - Apr 15 By the way i love Walkers reaction in the photo in response to Steve Evans trying to sell him his latest diet plan!!!
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RobsonWark added 19:12 - Apr 15 This is why players should stop taking the knee for BLM - Stop before this corruption spreads to the UK...
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Radlett_blue added 20:28 - Apr 15 The usual, expensive clear out of all the back room staff. Will we ever learn?
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shakytown added 21:00 - Apr 15 The first of many.
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blues1 added 21:11 - Apr 15 CheshireBlue. Regarding Leadbitter, since when have Sunderland suddenly been playing at a higher level than us? Think you'll find they're in lge1 still, right now.
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d77sgw added 21:18 - Apr 15 I worry a little bit whether Cook will live up to expectations without Leam Richardson. In much the same way that a lot of ‘Lambert's' early success was allegedly more down to Ian Culverhouse, I wonder how reliant Cook was on Richardson for his success at previous clubs. Certainly seems that Richardson is doing a reasonable job at Wigan right now. Even Burley and Robson owed a lot to the right coaching staff for their success.

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ArnieM added 22:39 - Apr 15 In a very very very ( I could go on) poor season where few players emerge within any credit at all, Judge ( as much as I dislike him) has in recent games been one of the better players . Which doesn't say much really. So when Town have dispensed with his services , that should send the fear of God through the rest of this sorry bunch, because They'll be next ( hopefully) 👍

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paulcooperisgod added 07:15 - Apr 16 He was a joke. Won't be missed
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