Town have announced that manager Paul Cook has been relieved of his duties following this afternoon’s 0-0 FA Cup draw with Barrow at Portman Road.

Blues CEO Mark Ashton told the club site: "Firstly, we would like to thank Paul and his team for their efforts in what has been a difficult transition period for everyone.

“I know how much Paul wanted to succeed at this club. However, following discussions with the board, we have decided a change is needed for our long-term interests.

“At this moment, there is no one lined up to replace Paul. There will be an extensive search to find the best replacement for the club. I will communicate more to the media and our supporters on Monday.”

It seems likely that former Colchester manager John McGreal, who joined the Blues as an U23s coach on Thursday, an appointment we understand wasn't made by Cook, will be put in caretaker charge.

Cook, 54, joined the club in March having been appointed by former owner Marcus Evans following Paul Lambert's sacking with the Blues dropping out of the play-off zone during his couple of months in charge.

The summer saw a major overhaul of the playing staff with 19 senior additions coming in along with new backroom staff - first team coach Franny Jeffers, goalkeeper-coach John Keeley and coach Ian Craney joining another first-team coach Gary Roberts - and around 30 players departing.

Despite the Blues having one of the largest budgets in League One, they made a slow start to the season and they have remained inconsistent and currently sit in 11th in the division.

Cook's record in his 44 games with Town reads a disappointing won 13, drawn 17 and lost 14.

The Blues new ownership backed Cook's appointment by Evans but, as reported by TWTD at the time, the man they eyed for the job was Lincoln City boss Michael Appleton, who worked for Ashton and chairman Mike O'Leary at Oxford having previously had links with the pair at West Brom.

Town are likely to look for a head coach rather than an old-style manager and other candidates we understand will come into the reckoning are MK Dons boss Liam Manning - who started his coaching career with the Blues having been an academy player - and Plymouth's Ryan Lowe.

Photo: TWTD

midastouch added 19:44 - Dec 4 Time was up unfortunately. Just wasn't happening for him and his team for whatever reasons. I had doubts fairly early but then when we smashed Pompey away I started to hope he was going to prove me wrong. And then when we beat Wycombe away I was very hopeful we'd turned a massive corner. But again it proved a false dawn as since then we've not done much at all and have dropped away in the league. Cook has had success elsewhere so one would expect that he'll get another chance somewhere else again. Also, we mustn't forget he lost his dad only a few weeks ago so he can't have been in the best place mentally to deal with the huge challenge of turning Ipswich around right now. But the reality of the situation is that there's little room for sentiment in football (especially in the modern game!) and I think now is the right time for us to start looking for another manager. I wish him all the best elsewhere, and as I said, I expect he'll get another crack of the whip somewhere else before too long. So who do we fancy next folks?

21

Cakeman added 19:45 - Dec 4 A sad day for our club with drawing at home to Barrow evidently the final straw. I like Paul Cook as a person and was really hoping he would turn our fortunes around. I think it was a case of appointing a good manager one or two years too late. Same as Paul Lambert and Paul Jewell. We must learn from this and not appoint someone specifically because they succeeded somewhere else in the past. I wish Paul Cook the very best for the future, he is a good man who tried exceptionally hard. I also think some of our players need to have a look at themselves too as they let him down.

32

pennblue added 19:46 - Dec 4 Shocked, can't really understand what has gone wrong the past 6 weeks. Thought he would be given January window at a minimum.
1

1960H added 19:46 - Dec 4 Good decision by the board, I always said give him until December and if it was not working get rid, the Yanks have invested a lot of money and will be wanting to see a return for their investment
12

stiggytrunk1955 added 19:46 - Dec 4 thank fxxk lets get a man in who knows football
4

barrystedmunds added 19:47 - Dec 4 Is 10 months long enough with two different squads an acceptable timeline to move things in the direction we all want? I would suggest not. BUT it was a worry when there was no visible”bounce” when he first came in and since then his very one dimensional style of play seemingly unable to change things when they clearly needed changing. This will be the first managerial appointment of the new owners, lets hope it's the start of something positive after the dire appointments of the Evans era.

8

bringonbrazil added 19:48 - Dec 4 A real shame-nice guy who was trying to get us playing football in a horrible league but not working out. Please, please let them appoint someone who will play football on the ground, keep Wes Burns and get rid of sunday footballers. Lampard? No thanks. Warnock? No fcn thanks. Allardyce? I am off!
6

backwaywhen added 19:48 - Dec 4 Bluepayne …. He was only successful with Leam Richardson as assistant, no Leam no show for Cook , tactically inept , absolutely the right decision COYBs
12

VanDusen added 19:49 - Dec 4 Monkey Blue - you're entitled to your opinion of course but I think it's a big mistake. We need some stability and unlike the Hurst sacking - which I really did support - ot doesn't look like the heads are down, we're just going through a sticky patch The football has been much much better most of this season and we're in the middle of a run of games where 7-8 out of 11 are against the Top 6 and we're still edgy (personally I forget the cup games which are always a toss up anyway - today wasn't great but look at Portsmouth?!). Wycombe was the best night I've had in years and that's just a month ago?! Since then we tonked Sunderland and lost very unluckily and the only side to outplay us totally are top of the league for a reason. I hope i'm wrong but I reckon many of the players will feel very at sea given they came specifically for this manager - I suspect many will try to leave.

4

bluemay77 added 19:49 - Dec 4 What odds on Daniel farke
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Dissboyitfc added 19:49 - Dec 4 Well i would like to wish Paul well, it wasnt working out, something was not right behind the scenes! Wonder how many players will leave? will be looking at a massive playing squad change again? I expect some will be expecting overnight success when the new guy is appointed! We will have to be patient again.
6

GleggsJag added 19:50 - Dec 4 Please call me out Robets
-1

FrankMarshall added 19:50 - Dec 4 No surprise as the results have been horrendous (especially in Division 3) but does put us in a difficult situation. New manager will want new coaching staff in so likely most of the present coaching staff will go. In January they will want new players in also (and may want some of the new players out). Not an ideal scenario at all but understandable.
7

jas0999 added 19:51 - Dec 4 No surprise. Played four league two clubs at home this season and failed to win a single one. He's not good enough. We need a good manager.
14

Botham1981 added 19:51 - Dec 4 Bring back Mick!
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:51 - Dec 4 Good decisive move , things havnt gone well, were not getting better, and the massive support post takeover was starting to waiver, IMO we are not likely to be promoted now, but we need to be going in right direction as season progresses and put ourselves in a place where next season should see us go up. Will be interesting to hear from Ashton now .In the past the club has lacked positive leadership and direction hopefully this decision will get the real show on the road .

10

OliveR16 added 19:53 - Dec 4 For whatever reason the players appear to have stopped playing for him - this week has shown it three times. No idea why. As he wasn't really the owners' choice and he has had free rein to change the whole staff he was never going to survive sustained mediocrity with his privileged set up. And he hasn't.
10

ringwoodblue added 19:53 - Dec 4 At least it has saved Cook the embarrassment of being humbled by his previous assistant at Wigan. Ashton has done a great job so far so I trust he will find the right successor with the backing of the owners and please please Mr Ashton get him a decent assistant (if it's not McGreal) and coaching staff. This club and the fans deserve the best so let's make sure our next manager is someone who we can all get behind and bring success back to Ipswich Town.

9

MVBlue added 19:54 - Dec 4 Its as much about the squad as the manager these days. Good squad, so new manager and onwards.
2

Westy added 19:54 - Dec 4 Sad for Cook. I liked him and not sure if I agree with this decision. It just means more upheaval and yet another manager, another rebuild and more uncertainty, unless something has happened that we are not yet aware of.
5

bernie added 19:54 - Dec 4 Touch early , but clear things wasn't working . Need to get the right man in and coaches or things could get worse . No more jokers please. Massive job
2

ArnieM added 19:55 - Dec 4 Thanks for your efforts PC, it just didn't work out. Good luck to you in your next job ….hopefully we all move forwards now.
17

BromleyBloo added 19:56 - Dec 4 Sooner than I expected, but abysmal results record speaks for itself and not the new owners choice - thanks Evans you screwed us to the end! Seemed a decent, honest guy, but got tired of him talking total boll_x before and after every game. Onward and upward………….……but, Christ, do we need to get the next appointment right!!!
8

stiggytrunk1955 added 19:58 - Dec 4 one trick pony get a manager who playes two up front please
9

Phillius added 19:59 - Dec 4 Although I hoped I was wrong I thought from day one that Paul Cook was the wrong fit for the club. Town need a young dynamic coach who can get the team playing with confidence and for each other.
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