Report claims Neil Warnock closing in on return with Ipswich Town

Jo Harrison

Former Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock is set to replace Paul Lambert at Ipswich Town with patience running out at Portman Road, according to reports.

Warnock, who has a wealth of Football League experience, is reportedly waiting in the wings to succeed Lambert as Ipswich manager, following their recent barren run of form – winning one of their last eight games and subquently slipping away from the promotion places.

Warnock, 71, achieved promotion with Cardiff City in 2018 but left the Bluebirds in November after three years following their relegation to the Championship.

Lambert, who became the first manager in history to manage both Norwich City and Ipswich Townbegan his managerial career in fine fettle as he led the club to the top of League One in August, achieving 14 league points from a possible 18 and winning the manager of the month award.

Seven months later, however, Ipswich find their form dramatically tailing after four conseuctive defeats in League One, with their 1-0 loss against Fleetwood Town seeing Lambert’s side ten points adrift of the play-off places.

With the visit of league leaders Coventry City up next for the Tractor Boys, owner Marcus Evans will be actively looking for Lambert’s successor in a bid to revive their season, with Warnock being one of those names.

Speaking to the club’s official website following his side’s defeat to Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town, Lambert remained optimistic about turning his team’s luck around.

“I never quit. I’m a fighter, everybody knows, and we continue to fight and try and get through”, he said. “We have to keep going until it’s mathematically to get up.

 

 

“We haven’t changed anything with the guys, they give us everything. The only thing is the expectancy levels on their shoulders – it’s the first time they’re dealing with this sort of pressure, a lot of them, even the older guys.

“It’s a big ask for them as well – it’s a totally different pressure expecting to win things to staying in the division and relegation battles.”

The under-fire manager will be hoping his players can turn things around on Saturday when they welcome Coventry to Portman Road, the first of four home games in their next five fixtures.