Portsmouth's rivals Ipswich part company with Paul Lambert amid Paul Cook links

The Scot, along with assistant Stuart Taylor, have departed Portman Road after two-and-a-half years in the job.

The Tractor Boys sit eighth in League One and two points outside the play-offs.

And despite Ipswich beating promotion-chasing Doncaster 2-1 on Saturday, Lambert has left his post.

It’s been reported that the Tractor Boys are on the verge of being takeover by an American consortium and they plan to install Pompey’s 2017 League Two title-winning manager Paul Cook as manager.

Current owner Marcus Evans told Ipswich’s website: ‘I would like to put on record my sincere thanks to Paul and Stuart for their services to Ipswich Town over the last two and half years.

‘I have enjoyed a healthy working relationship with Paul in our time together and he has brought a lot of positive aspects to the club.

“It has, however, become clear after holding discussions over the last few days that there are significant differences of opinion as to the order of immediate priorities and we agreed it was best for us to part company. I would like to wish both Paul and Stuart the best in the future.’

Speaking after Ipswich’s defeat of Doncaster, Lambert quipped he’d found Cook sitting in his office the morning of the game.

The Tractor Boys travel to Pompey on Saturday, March 20.