Lambert weighs up Ipswich job offer

Paul Lambert is in the frame to make his return to management with Ipswich Town, after the Championship strugglers yesterday sacked Paul Hurst.

Lambert has been approached by Ipswich and is considering whether to make what would represent a controversial move due to his association with the club’s bitter rivals, Norwich.

The 49-year-old is available after leaving Stoke by mutual consent in May and is understood to have held initial talks with Marcus Evans, the Ipswich owner. He managed backto-back promotions with Norwich, taking them from League One to the Premier League, before leaving for Aston Villa in 2012.

Hurst was dismissed after securing just one win from the past 14 league games, with his final match the 2-0 defeat at Leeds.

He had established a decent reputation at Grimsby and Shrewsbury and was seen as a shrewd appointment in May but it has proved a chastening experience for the former defender. His signings have come under scrutiny and Ipswich are bottom of the Championship, already four points adrift of safety.

Hurst replaced Mick Mccarthy, who left Portman Road towards the end of last season after 5½ years.

“I have decided that it is in the best interests of the club that we appoint a new manager to take us forward,” said Evans. “Paul’s arrival here was welcomed by us all and we worked tirelessly to support him fully with his plans for player recruitment, training methodology and backroom staff. But unfortunately those plans haven’t turned into positive results, which is why I have had to take this decision.”