Ipswich Town have appointed coveted ex-Wigan and Portsmouth boss Paul Cook as manager following the departure of Paul Lambert.
Paul Cook has returned to League One as manager of Ipswich Town – on a contract which will run till the summer of 2023.
Town's new manager, Cook, has his sights set on his fourth promotion, as he told the club's website that it is a “honour” to manage the East Anglian club, as well as informing supporters his “immediate target” is returning Ipswich to the Championship.
“It's been a quick turnaround with zoom meetings with the owner but Marcus has given me the opportunity to manage what is a great football club and that is a massive honour for me and my family.” Said Cook.
“I'm proud to be in this position and I'll be doing everything possible to repay the faith Marcus has shown in me.”
“Winning promotion this season is the immediate target. It will be a big challenge but it's a challenge that everyone at the Club has a part to play in.”
Former Ipswich midfielder Gary Roberts has also returned to the club as part of Cook's coaching staff.
The Tractor Boy's new manager, Cook, has a wealth of experience in management having managed over 400 games across League Two, League One and the Championship.
He has also achieved several promotions throughout his managerial career starting at Chesterfield as League Two Champions in 2013/14; at Portsmouth in 2016/17 – again as League Two champions – and at Wigan, scoring 98 points as they clinched the League One title in 2017/18.
Much-maligned Ipswich Town chairman Marcus Evans, has been impressed by Cook's previous work in the Football League, and has praised his ability to find a “winning formula,” Evans has also noted that the ex-Wigan manager's approach to the game is in line with the club's “playing ethos” – an issue which had caused friction between supporters and ex-manager Mick McCarthy towards the latter end of his reign.
“I'm delighted to announce that Paul Cook is our new manager,” said Evans.
“He has a proven track record in getting clubs promoted and importantly, not only knows the challenges League One presents but also has experience of working in the Championship and getting back to that level remains our primary focus.
“He took Wigan up to the Championship in his first year, kept them up and they would have comfortably finished in mid-table last season if it wasn't for their points deduction.
“In our conversations, he has shown a great desire to become our next manager and I have been impressed by his ideas and ambitions to help take Ipswich Town forwards and I look forward to working with him as we strive firstly to return to the Championship.
“He knows he will be working with a squad of players that is as good as any in this division and I believe Paul will bring the energy, the enthusiasm and the experience that can fully enhance our promotion aspirations.
“As well as having a history – and on-going desire – of developing a winning formula, his teams have played in a style which is totally in line with the Club's ambitions to develop an Ipswich Town playing ethos.
“I'm sure our supporters will give Paul a great welcome – albeit from afar at the moment – and get right behind him and the players as we enter what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the season.”
