Ipswich approach 43 year old to be new manager as another candidate watches defeat

Ipswich Town approach 43 year old Frank Lampard to be their new manager as another candidate watches their defeat at Charlton Athletic.

Yes, rather interestingly, the former Chelsea player turned boss has been contacted by the League One outfit, according to Football Insider who were the first announce that Plymouth would appoint Steven Schumacher to replace Ryan Lowe.

The Tractorboys are in the market for a replacement for Paul Cook, who was sacked last Saturday with the club currently sitting 11th in the table.

Fans are far from happy and really made the feelings known by confronting their own team’s players following the 2-0 loss at the Addicks on Tuesday.

An Ipswich source has told Football Insider that Lampard is a leading target to come in at the third tier club, to get them back into the Championship, and have now moved to ascertain his interest in the post.

Lampard came close to being appointed manager of their rivals Norwich City last month before he pulled out of the race at the eleventh hour.

It;s also reported that fellow Chelsea legend John Terry is also a contender for the Ipswich job with a source adding that the former England defender is interested in kicking off his managerial career with them.

Meanwhile, Marc Bircham was in attendance for the League One game between Charlton and Ipswich last night.

The former Queens Park Rangers midfielder was first linked with the managerial vacancy on Monday and he remains the favourite for the job with the bookmakers.

His presence at The Valley could potentially indicate that he has a genuine interest in the post, and he’s only gone a fuelled it even more by his appearance at The Valley.

Tuesday night entertainment pic.twitter.com/0B02x8dQpL

— Marc Bircham (@marcbircham) December 7, 2021

43 year old Bircham recently left his role as manager of League of Ireland Premier Division outfit Waterford following a dispute with owner Richard Forrest.

He is also well known to one of Ipswich’s American owners, Brett Johnson, having endured a coaching spell at Arizona United – who have since renamed themselves as Phoenix Rising – in 2016.

Another contender for the job if local media are anything to go by is ex-Celtic boss Neil Lennon.

Lennon was appointed manager of Celtic in March 2010, initially in a caretaker capacity, after the departure of Tony Mowbray.

Lennon enjoyed significant success as Celtic manager, winning three Scottish league championships, two Scottish Cups, qualifying for the group stage of the Champions League twice and the knockout stages once, before leaving the club in May 2014.

After an unsuccessful spell with Bolton Wanderers, where the club suffered financial problems, Lennon returned to Scottish football in 2016 with Hibernian.

He led them to a promotion in his first season as head coach, and European qualification in his second season, before leaving Hibernian in January 2019.

Lennon returned to Celtic in February 2019, initially on an interim basis for the rest of the 2018–19 season, and guided them to the league and Scottish Cup titles. His contract was renewed and he led Celtic to the Scottish league title again in 2019–20. He also led the team to a fourth consecutive domestic treble by also winning the League Cup and the Scottish Cup that season. Lennon left Celtic in February 2021, as the club had fallen far behind Rangers in the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership.

Fans have reacted as Ipswich reportedly approach 43 year old Frank Lampard to be their new manager as another candidate Marc Bircham watches the defeat…

@Ipswich_Steve: Terry over Lampard all day for me. Leader and alot smarter than most give him credit for. Majorly ambitious but fair play if this is the standard we are looking at. #ITFC

@NCFC_Adam: Fucking hell. Fair play if they pull this off

@NicDaChick85: Lampard, Terry or Lennon? 😒🤷🏼‍♀️ #itfc

@Robbie04039506: Get Lampard and @JohnTerry26 to take us up 🤩

@WilliamACTaylor: I think Lampard would be unlikely. Terry would be my preferred option from what’s available.

@TGAF78: Might be pie in the sky but I’d love @JohnTerry26 at @IpswichTown. Born winner, been meticulous with his coaching qualifications and learning on the job. Yes, he has no managerial experience but has to take the leap at some point. No comparison to the Keane situation IMO. #itfc

@olid111: Lennon for #itfc can it really get that bad – we need a manager who is progressive and understands tactics not one who would struggle to even spell it. Our last few managers have obsessively played 1 up top and always we have needed 2. @bmjcrew28

@spally76: I wasn’t convinced by Lampard but if it’s the choice of him or some of the other shit I’ve seen mentioned I’d take Lampard every time

@PlumbPeter: He hasn’t got the bottle to take on this job.

@LewisSmy: Surely Super Franky Lampard gets the job now! #itfc

@SFraze_ITFC: Frankie Lampards Blue and White Army

@DaveD92: JT can sure up the defence, that I have no doubt in but can FL make us a threat going forward? That I doubt

@DutchieMartin: Lock up your wives

@SmithsonKevin1: I think it would be perfect for Lampard to take the job at the 1981 UEFA cup winners. #1p5wich #ncfc

Let’s have them both

— Robbie_n_ (@Robbie04039506) December 8, 2021