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

Northstandveteran added 21:20 - Dec 4 Considering the amount of money that has been spent on players over the years, wouldn't it make sense to bust the bank on a quality manager? That way we might be able to tempt a a top class man to drop down to this level.
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NorthLondonBlue2 added 21:21 - Dec 4 Quite a shock, tbh. I felt that he would be given at least until January. Something about a rigid 4-2-3-1 in every game never felt right to me. Always hated the lone striker unless it was playing for a draw away from home. But above all else, I'm sad to see Ipswich lose its reputation for standing by their man. Thanks for everything you did, Paul and best wishes for the future.

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rgp1 added 21:22 - Dec 4 @ blues 1 People have a right to be angry after years of dross and you continually come on here and slate people's opinions. Yes opinions are what they are and they may differ from yours. Perhaps you have done so much happy clapping that you may need some cream for those sore hands!
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Europablue added 21:23 - Dec 4 Paul Cook clearly wasn't the right fit for the club. I don't think he ever understood the club and the history. Cambridge is a local derby!?! He also should have appointed a few more players who were proper Ipswich blokes. Gary Roberts doesn't really count. It did feel like a bit of a Liverpudlian invasion at times!
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BlueySwede added 21:23 - Dec 4 I am absolutely shocked, and not sure I agree with this. However, these owners are certainly not playing around. Perform or be sacked.
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Phil1969 added 21:30 - Dec 4 Don't worry guys Pep's contract is up soon. Roll on the next journeyman ! This is the shxt hole we're in now and for the long term. New owners haven't really spent much when you factor in sales. Just got the asset on the cheap.
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JimInGreensboro added 21:40 - Dec 4 Cook abandoned our players last season. He came in and instead of trying to make the most of it, trashed the squad- publicly. That was unnecessary. It was as if he was trying to make the latter stages of last year as awful as they could possibly be, so that when he cleaned house and got his own lads, there would be a clear and compelling distinction. But there hasn't been. We sold our squad at fire sale prices, spent millions for these lads, for no tangible benefit. There is quality here. Plenty of it. Let's hope the next manager makes the most of the season ahead.

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algarvefan added 21:42 - Dec 4 I am truly in shock about this. I'm going to confess that I liked Paul Cook, he seemed the right guy with the right pedigree for the job. I was always concerned that he didn't bring Richardson with him. I now understand John McGreal's 'strange' appointment a few days ago, a seasoned safe pair of hands respected at the club for an interim appointment. I hope we don't rush this, this is a crucial time in our re-build and another managerial mistake could prove fatal. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish Paul Cook all the best for the future, I know he really wanted to succeed with Town, he seemed such a nice honest guy and I hope one or two players feel guilty for letting him down tonight. The next few weeks are going to be tough for Town so please if you can turn out and cheer them on.

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BlueRuin69 added 21:43 - Dec 4 IS THIS A JOKE! Managers deserve a full season and two windows min. Not the ipswich way! RIP ITFC. Thanks Paul for your efforts. NUMBSKULLS 1.....REASON 0....yet again
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bluesince76 added 21:43 - Dec 4 Had to happen this club has been like a retirement home for managers recent years a club with ambition needs to win games and cook wasn't able to achieve this.
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planetblue_2011 added 21:44 - Dec 4 Blimey never saw this one coming!! Feel sorry for Cook it didn't work out for him but he signed all these players who he thought would get us up & clearly hasn't worked. I would be happy with McGreal as thought he should of got the job before Cook. If not him someone who has a lot of experience to get us out of this league.
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Dolphinblue added 21:45 - Dec 4 #thenegcrew have hounded out another manager....will their hate ever end! Awful decision!
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Europablue added 21:47 - Dec 4 DaGremloid I want us to win the cups, and Cook really took them seriously, probably too seriously. It would have been better to give a run out to the players on the fringe. I just don't think that form in cups is a very good way to judge a manager or team. Definitely, the results have not been good enough. Personally, I don't think the results were the deciding factor, I just think that Cook was not the right personality, and had a poor backroom staff as well as not really understanding our club. I want an outsider like Klopp (in personality, obviously not that caliber of coach) who is very aware of the club history and what that means to the club. Calling Cambridge a local derby shows a lack of understanding of history and geography.

0

BlueRuin69 added 21:48 - Dec 4 Planetblue....someone with alot of experience to get us out of this league......oh you mean like Paul Cook!
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davidsc1971 added 21:49 - Dec 4 Something has appeared up in recent weeks and I wonder if similar issues have arisen as with the previous squad, who plainly wouldn't play for him. Nice bloke, committed to the cause, just seems unable to muster a plan B when the chips are down. Best decision for the Club. COYB
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Jewell_in_the_Town added 21:54 - Dec 4 How about trying to entice Wayne Rooney from Derby? He's done a highly impressive job there given the constraints he's worked under and, arguably, Town have far more going for them going forwards.
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JimInGreensboro added 21:54 - Dec 4 Mick's on the loose. With the backing of the pension fund…
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ChorleyBoy added 22:02 - Dec 4 The fill Portman Road match versus Sunderland demanded this decision from our new owners who now face a genuine test of their abilities and desire to turn the club around. A difficult decision and hopefully the right one. So good luck Paul Cook wherever you go after you get your vocal cords sorted out. Interesting times.
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DaGremloid added 22:07 - Dec 4 Dolphinblue - Dear oh dear. You honestly believe that a few fans who saw through Cook from the very beginning hounded him out? I think his results and performance might have done that.
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blueboy1981 added 22:07 - Dec 4 Make no mistake this is yet another critical time of much uncertainty, once again for our Club. Our takeover has much still to prove in terms of the right path for the Club. A nervous time for many, Supporters too, may I suggest. Timing of all this is quite bizarre …. !!!
3

Bluroo added 22:12 - Dec 4 Cannot believe any Town fans could possibly think this wasn't warranted. “Have patience, give it time” implies a guarantee he'd succeed eventually. Was never ever gonna happen.I gave up weeks ago try to explain on here how inept Cook was. The last of a line of terrible Evans appointments. I didn't agree with a single one of them. Here's hoping the new owners and Ashton know how to make THE most important decision in over a decade. I have faith.

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ScottCandage added 22:14 - Dec 4 Patrick Viera anyone?
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dubblue added 22:26 - Dec 4 Sorry for the man. But his record speaks for itself we were on a míní run just before he arrived and were contenders for the play-offs. Then Cook arrived and we finished 9th well off the play-offs. This season new squad and we are still a mid division one team. I like the ambition of the new owners. If the old owner was still here PC would have survived the season.
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PhilR added 22:27 - Dec 4 Have to hope Ashton and co haven't done this on the hoof, and have someone in mind to replace Cook. There has been something very wrong with the chemistry in the team and with the management, it has negatively affected performances, particularly after half time. I am pleased to see Cook go, he seemed to have become very one dimensional and increasingly dysfunctional. The biggest concern is that some of our 'top' players came to play for Cook, on the face if it, and where does that leave us?

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dirtydingusmagee added 22:28 - Dec 4 good to see Flipper back with his hilarious input . LOL
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