Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert offered an intriguing response when asked about his future at Portman Road beyond this season, after his side succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to Hull City at the weekend.

The Tractor Boys' hopes of surviving the drop look to dead and buried, if they weren't already, after falling to a bitterly disappointing defeat to the Tigers.

Things looked to be somewhat improving for Lambert's men after losing just one of their last seven league games, showing their resilient edge after six draws out of seven games.

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But the Tigers limited Ipswich to very few chances, and made them pay for their lack of cutting edge after an emphatic brace from Kamil Grosicki which ultimately sealed all three points for Nigel Adkins' men.

After his side's loss at the weekend, BBC Radio Suffolk asked Lambert about his future at Portman Road, with the club looking destined for the drop this term - but the former Norwich manager offered a cryptic response.

"If the club don’t want me to stay here then that’s no problem, I’ll go. I don’t have any problem whatsoever. The club’s more important than me and more important than any individual.

"But what I would say is that, being here and being the manager of this club, is that it’s an unbelievable club to manage. So whoever gets the job at the end of the season, if I’m not here, you’ve got an incredible club behind you and incredible support behind you."

"Wait and see what happens at the end of the season, wait and see. What’s going to happen’s going to happen."

After yet another defeat at Portman Road, Ipswich now sit 13 points adrift of safety after picking up a staggering three wins all season long. They face relegation rivals Bolton Wanderers next week, in a game which could seal their place in League One for good.

The Verdict

If Ipswich managed to keep Lambert in League One, you would expect them to come right back up next season.

He is a vastly experienced manager who has fantastic qualities as a coach, but has been unable to implement his style at Portman Road this season.

If he does stay in charge next season, he will be looking to overhaul his squad in the summer, and make that squad his own.

They are surely destined for the drop, unless a miracle happens.