New manager Paul Cook says owner Marcus Evans's relationship with his previous bosses was a big factor in him deciding to take the Town job, having spoken to former incumbent Mick McCarthy about the role.

He says the relationships Evans, who it's understood is in the process of selling the club to a US-backed consortium, and general manager of football operations Lee O’Neill have had with previous bosses and staff were a big factor, as was the way the manager’s position is viewed at Town.

“I’ve got to be brutally honest, the club and Marcus, Lee O’Neill, that was the attraction, the relationship those people have with their managers and staff is massive to me,” he said.

“Football’s a massively changing game now, that’s life at the top end of football. There are so many components with sporting directors and different people at clubs.

“And I’m a great believer that the manager does have an important role to play at a club, he is important, he’s been brought in because of his football knowledge.

“Certainly I’m speaking with Lee and Marcus especially, and I’m going to be part of hopefully a success story.

“I need help, of course I do. I need help from recruitment, I need help from my other staff, I need help from the players.

“But certainly, in my opinion, Marcus’s relationship with previous managers, like Mick McCarthy when I spoke to Mick, the relationship shone through from Mick and that’s very important for a manager to know, that he has an owner’s faith.”

Regarding backing in the summer, he joked: “I'd like to tell you he has, but he hasn’t, so there we go. I’ll put a little bit of pressure on him.

“No, I don’t ask for that, I genuinely don’t. When I come into a club, I want to make sure we utilise everything we’ve got within the club first.

“Marcus will see what we’re doing on the pitch, like every Ipswich Town fan. He loves it, the good and the bad. At those points we sit down together and we say, 'Right, is there anything we can do to help this team?’. If there is, then fantastic, if not, then we go back to the training ground and work harder.”

Photo: TWTD

rabbit added 09:24 - Mar 12 Haha the funniest thing I've read in a while, Bluearmy_81 calling someone else "childish"!! Bluearmy_81 the Walter Mitty of the TWTD site, the guy that loves the club so much but can only get to two or three games per season, the "activist" that doesn't attend when there is an arranged protest. Bluearmy_81 who believes that a business can make money by tax offset. How lovely it must be to live in a world of make believe. Enjoy your weekend Bluearmy_81 so looking forward to your next match report.

-2

Bluearmy_81 added 11:41 - Mar 12 If only you were as critical of the joke ownership of your club as you are of me rabbit! 😂😂 I couldn't give a rats ass about what you think so it bothers me not one jot!
0

dirtydingusmagee added 12:20 - Mar 12 Fat Boy Tim , every manager has had a good relationship ,until lack of funds brings them down to earth, and they realise they are going backwards or at best trading water, the fans get restless, the pressure starts to get to the manager, and hey ho we start over again. Weve been doing that since Keane left.
1

Bluearmy_81 added 13:21 - Mar 12 DD it's staggering fans can't see the pattern, even after 14 years. Staggering in fact. Unless Evans goes it will be 'Cook out' in x number of months or years. Its like the owner has an eternal free pass even in the face of such chronic under investment. Mind blowing stuff... I seriously don't think it happens to such an extreme degree at any other club I can think of... 🤔

2

Westy added 10:18 - Mar 13 This rather implies that there won't be a takeover.
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls