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

Dissboyitfc added 20:29 - Dec 4 just been looking at available managers, its quite scary when you think who we could end up with! Hope Ashton gets the next manager right!
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 20:30 - Dec 4 The key word is efforts!
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ThaiBlue added 20:31 - Dec 4 Made my day hes gone,mans a clown just like the backroom staff,well done to the owners.
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Chris_Knights added 20:32 - Dec 4 Well that was a surprise ….. the only thing I'm going to say is that something is wrong at Portman Road. These players are good enough and should be in the top six without any doubt…. But something behind the scenes is toxic…. The managers job at Portman Road is a poison chalice
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budgieplucker added 20:35 - Dec 4 Neil Warnock has a strong friendship/ relationship with Kieron Dyer- who loves the man (footballing wise of course). Maybe a Manchester United type arrangement by bringing in Warnock as temporary manager on a short term contract to the end of the year with John McGreal and Kieron as Assistant and 1st team coach. Whilst I wouldn't want or see Colin as a long term appointment he is a great man manager and motivator and it may just be the right thing to do until the summer when more choice as contracts may be up and perhaps a high profile continental manager. Leeds attracted Bielsa in the second tier, and I wouldn't put it past our American owners to be quite audacious in attracting a seasoned continental coach. Now whether that would work in Division 1 remains to be seen, Stendhl had a really good season for Barnsley. But Colin is in his seventies so we know he is on borrowed time but it might just give an opportunity for McGreal and Dyer to prove themselves and make a bid for the job. Warnock is capable of getting us promoted this year.

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dirtydingusmagee added 20:36 - Dec 4 going to be an interesting few days [or longer] Ashton has been very open with supporters to this point and im sure will remain so. One thing i do believe is that we are in better hands appointing a new manager and staff than we were with M E .
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TimmyH added 20:37 - Dec 4 Wow! didn't see this coming as quick as this to be honest, thought maybe into the New Year...but the last month really hasn't been good enough. Please no more managers with the name Paul...they've all been disasters!
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Chaz26 added 20:37 - Dec 4 Paul Cook has been out of his depth since being appointed. He is not of the calibre of past managers even in recent past - McCarthy and Lambert were much better qualified to lead Ipswich. I do not know who should succeed him but I do know that Paul Cook was not for the Town.
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LuciBlue added 20:38 - Dec 4 Farke me!
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herfie added 20:40 - Dec 4 I suspect that the timing of John McG's appointment, ostensibly to help KD with the U-23, was linked to a decision already taken regarding Paul Cook's removal. It follows that PC was probably aware of how things were going to play out - evidenced by his highly emotional, and brutally honest, post match interview. I think he's a good footballing man, sadly out of his depth with the massive changes the was required to manage, whilst delivering progressive, entertaining and ultimately successful football - resulting in rapid promotion. His inexperienced support team were equally well off the pace. Therefore the Board has made a necessary and relatively decision; albeit I feel sad for PC on a personal level affecting, as it will, his whole family. The infinitely more difficult decision will be finding a wholly suitable successor. No margin for error, so comprehensive due diligence required. Lots of potential suitors likely to be in the frame; with our new owners and access to real funding, ITFC suddenly becomes an attractive option. More so than ever it was under ME - probably why Frank Lampard didn't fancy us. So important that the Board don't necessarily go for a ‘Hollywood' signing, who will waste no time spending their money! Somebody who I believe would be good fit for us is Mark Robbins, currently at Coventry, who has a sold a track record and loads of experience. But he's under contract, doing well and might not fancy us. However, it should be someone of that ilk ( never seen that word on here before btw!). It's going to be an interesting ride!

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runaround added 20:41 - Dec 4 Please not Burley We need to move forward
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billythefish added 20:44 - Dec 4 Sadly I do believe this was the right decision. Paul Cook was yet another manager that was lacking in tactical ability, no plan B, no awareness of when to change the system, make substitutions. His inconsistency was his consistency. Let's hope we finally get the right man for the job.
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Mariner1974 added 20:45 - Dec 4 I don't get all this 'he's a good guy' nonsense. I'm delighted. Never liked the guy & what he did to our players at the end of the season. Too much ego for me, and I couldn't take him seriously. Throwing all our players under the bus, because it was right for Ipswich Town. No ...that was for your own good to buy you some more time. You've been found out good and proper. Let's get someone in with a bit of class, who doesn't just employ inexperienced ex-players from Liverpool who he can have a laugh with and not question his methods. He's a lower league manager and will never manage at a higher level. Who wants to hear his foghorn mouth bleeding their ears day in day out? Bishop, Dozzell, Lankester and co will be raising a glass tonight. Norwood will probably get so smashed he'll drive into a lamp post. Onwards and upwards!

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Facefacts added 20:51 - Dec 4 He had to go. Don't think he'll get another job in football. Sounded a broken man from Day One. There were so many warning signs. Appointing mates with no track record. Gary Roberts was still playing, he did not even want to retire. Could not get Leam Richardson who now has Wigan in the promotion places on his own. Results were nowhere near good enough right from the start. Couldn't get the players to do what he wanted. I think we need a younger manager who can get more on the players' level of understanding. But who? No idea. But it has to be said that to change the manager now is a huge risk. No idea what they will do. It's a roll of the dice. They might go for Steve Bruce. Could be anyone. But it has got to be better than keeping Paul Cook. Ipswich Town Football Club is going downhill fast. I cannot see anyone getting this squad out of this league in the right direction. It's still a huge bloated squad with no leaders, no spine to the team. I really think the takeover guys will be wishing they had kept their investors' money in their pockets. As soon as previously excellent players join this club, they become half or less of the player they used to be. Horrible times.

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Europablue added 20:55 - Dec 4 I don't really get it. Do we really care about a few cup results, only one loss amongst them? I didn't have a lot of confidence in Cook, but I never like to see a manager sacked without a clear plan of succession. The chairman and the rest of the higher-ups seem to know what they are doing and it makes a lot of sense for them to bring in their own man, but the other problem is all the players that signed because of Cook and it is difficult to imagine us spending big for new players considering the Summer rebuild. In summation, I'm not that sad to see Cook, leave, but equally I'm not fully convinced that sacking him was the right move. I will give the chairman etc., the benefit of the doubt and have my fingers crossed that they bring in the right man to play the right kind of football.

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BeethorpeAndy added 20:56 - Dec 4 Shocked!! I will always defend a nice guy, but seriously,we can't beat Barrow! Good luck Paul, sorry it hasn't worked out!
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TimmyH added 20:58 - Dec 4 Why would Robbins want to come here after the good work he's done and continues to at Coventry? Foreign manager for me or Lampard who did well at Derby with lads and well at Chelsea with their transfer embargo.
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bigolconnor added 20:59 - Dec 4 Yallop and Dyer
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bobble added 21:01 - Dec 4 the dark lords curse on town continues................
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DaGremloid added 21:13 - Dec 4 Europablue - I might be in the minority but I DO care about cup results. Several other teams seem to as well because there are always winners and finalists...
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Town_Jewells added 21:15 - Dec 4 The owners now have a massive decision to make (if it hasn't been made already). Get it right and realise the full potential from this squad and promotion this season is still achievable.
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Dissboyitfc added 21:15 - Dec 4 Trouble with Lampard is he would be gone if he done well, we want someone who wants to stick around! Poyet and torrico?
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shakytown added 21:16 - Dec 4 Replacement really needs to be an experienced manager who can get these players to play as a team and someone who has a lot more tactical ability than Cook. first thing needed is to lay players in their correct position and not try to shoehorn them into other places they are not comfortable in.
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Monkey_Blue added 21:16 - Dec 4 Reuser and Pablo… I'm Joking although both are coaches. Of the three mentioned none would upset me but I think Manning whilst doing well at MK Dons might be a little inexperienced… a dozen league games in charge at this level. I'm aware of the links to Appleton by Ashton and the MD but he also has signed a long term deal at Lincoln not so long ago. Don't know enough about Lowe. I wonder if we'll have a shortlist or be prepared to also see who applies?

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Europablue added 21:16 - Dec 4 There is no way that Lampard would not accept a Premier League job and instead go for us. I don't even know who we could bring in, but it will be managers from the top of League one that will be in the running. I was never impressed by the backroom staff he brought in and clearly things weren't working. I don't like sacking managers and I am not happy that we have sacked one without another one lined up, but I'll reserve judgement. To be fair Ashton and O'Leary were not in charge of Cook's appointment.

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