With Paul Cook looking set to be named Town manager later this week, TWTD looked at the 54-year-old’s background.

Cook has been the favourite for the boss’s job at Portman Road since the end of last week with his appointment linked to the US-backed takeover.

However, TWTD reported in January that Cook had been spoken to by current owner Marcus Evans as he looked at his options with Paul Lambert’s position looking increasingly precarious.

And at this lunchtime’s press conference, general manager Lee O’Neill insisted the new boss’s appointment is unrelated to the takeover, which we understand has made significant progress and has gone as far as being with the EFL for their ratification.

Talks with Cook are well progressed and we understand the new man could be confirmed the new Town manager as soon as Wednesday or Thursday.

As previously revealed, former Blues winger Gary Roberts, coincidentally a player with tomorrow’s opponents Accrington, and ex-Town forward Noel Hunt are under consideration for positions on Cook’s staff with previous members of his backroom team currently in jobs.

Leam Richardson, his assistant with Portsmouth and Wigan, is the caretaker-manager of the Latics, while his first team coach while with the Lancastrians, Anthony Barry, is now assistant head coach at Chelsea. Keeper-coach Nick Colgan is working at Nottingham Forest.

Given his experience as assistant manager at Swindon, a role he left in December, Hunt, 38, would appear to be the more likely appointment assuming Cook’s scope for bringing in staff is limited with current caretaker-manager Matt Gill and keeper-coach Jimmy Walker set to stay at Town.

Kirkby-born Cook was a central midfielder in his playing days, starting his career with non-league Marine before moving on to Wigan, Norwich for a short spell in the 1998/89 season, Wolves, Coventry, Tranmere, Stockport, Burnley (initially on loan), another stint with Wigan on loan and finally Accrington Stanley.

Cook moved into management with Southport in June 2006 but departed Haig Avenue the following January.

In April 2007 Cook took charge of League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers. Having guided Rovers to fourth and a European place, he left by mutual consent in January 2009 only to return 13 days later.

Despite tight finances, Cook saw Sligo to the 2009 FAI Cup final but they were beaten 2-1 by Sporting Fingal.

However, in 2010 they did carry off some silverware, the League Cup, then they followed that up by an on-penalties victory over Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup the same season and retained the trophy the following season via another win on spot-kicks against Shelbourne.

In February 2012 Cook took charge of Accrington but having finished 14th in League Two in 2011/12 he departed in the October when he took charge at Chesterfield.

"Cook took the Spireites to the League Two title in 2013/14 and then the following year to sixth and a play-off place in League One.

That success led to his move to Pompey in May 2015 and two years later he guided the Hampshire side to the League Two title.

In May 2017, Cook was named manager of Wigan following their drop into League One and led them to the title in 2017/18 as well as FA Cup shocks against Premier League West Ham, Bournemouth and Manchester City as they reached the quarter-finals.

He resigned in July last year following the Latics’ administration, resultant 12-point deduction and relegation to League One. Without the points deduction they would have finished 13th.

Overall at his six clubs as a manager Cook’s win percentage stands at 43.1.

Since leaving Wigan, he has been linked with a number of jobs in the Championship, among them the positions at Cardiff City, which he is understood to have turned down, and Sheffield Wednesday.

Cook is set to become the 18th Blues manager of the professional era and the fourth named Paul during the Evans era. Fans will hope Cook can bring the success which eluded Messrs Jewell, Hurst and Lambert.

Photo: Action Images

Buryblue78 added 22:01 - Mar 1 I seem to remember he was Sky's pundit when we beat Wigan 2-0 at the start of this season I remember his body language that day stood out to me as of a man who grew up in our glory days and would love a shot at managing us We certainly need some fresh ideas and enthusiasm for the simple(not to be confused with easy) task ahead I'd certainly welcome him
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Taricco_Fan added 22:01 - Mar 1 Some of you lot need a reality check. We're a League One club in need of an experienced man with a track record at this level. Of the realistic candidates, Cook fits the bill. The likes of Howe and Lampard will be aiming higher. Dyer is pure sentiment. I'd love to see him manage us one day but he needs to go elsewhere and prove himself.
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coolhand added 22:13 - Mar 1 I'm sorry, I do not want to be doom and gloom but PC is too old and has not done it for me. Would not knock the guy for coming (if he does). But long term I don't think he is the guy for ipswich and I am not sure he will be ME's choice
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slimjim added 22:18 - Mar 1 Agree with a few posts on here...am not overly excited with this don't know much about the guy to be honest...his record looks okish but I wish him all the best. As for those looking to get a bigger signing e.g. Howe or Lampard...get a grip why would either of those come to a third division outfit....seriously!! And finally I would be very surprised if the Celtic appoint Lambert...but as a Gers fan that might work out ok !!

3

ringwoodblue added 22:19 - Mar 1 Seems like a decent enough guy based on what I've seen of him but I'm not convinced he can take us all the way to the promised land that is the Premier League. Would still have preferred Eddie Howe tbh but I will certainly get behind him. It will be interesting to see how he handles the Jackson/Nolan situation.
1

Monkey_Blue added 22:26 - Mar 1 Still don't get why the idiots on here don't see the “pension fund” takeover as a real worry. Cook is an average/decent lower league manager but hardly a genius....otherwise he would have had jobs reflecting that. I smh at the ignorant nonsense spouted on here
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Northstandveteran added 22:27 - Mar 1 Talk of takeovers and Eddie Howe, TWTD, you committed a foul! You got us excited to get lots of votes, Just because Paul and Stu got their coats, Still stuck with Evans who calls on Paul Cook, Currently sporting my ' uninspired ' look, Thoughts of new owners going for bust, Dreams of the premier league fading to dust.
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aas1010 added 22:30 - Mar 1 Let's just wait til someone is appointed .and then the possible take over . Who knows it might be great we shall see . I recon lambert will go Celtic .... COYB👍
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Mjdery89 added 22:33 - Mar 1 The 98/89 season? Blimey, seems a long one haha
0

terryf added 22:33 - Mar 1 I think the answer to your question Arnie is two fold 1) Cardiff and Sheff Wed were only offering short term contracts 2) A new Owner is coming who will fund new players.
2

Dissboyitfc added 23:00 - Mar 1 Well NorfolkBluey and anyone else referring to a win rate of only 43% i say this, Sir Bobby had a win rate of 44% at ipswich in 13 years and over 700 odd games, a win rate to give us our best ever history so i dont think a win rate of 43 % is to shabby! I wouldnt be to unhappy if he is the man given the job!
6

Essexipswichboy added 23:12 - Mar 1 So what happened at pompey? That bit was skipped
2

TractorBeezer added 01:44 - Mar 2 Good reporting Phil......thanks. Will you be invited to press confernces now!
1

bobble added 04:54 - Mar 2 burley or butcher or dyer a drummer from a punk band ! no thanks,,.
1

Billericay12 added 06:29 - Mar 2 Essexipswichboy, Portsmouth won the League 2 title under Paul Cook in 2017. We all need to manage our expectations a bit. Lambert is gone and I am not disappointed. We needed a change but change does not guarantee instant success. Whoever takes over will still have the same group of players that many thought were good enough to win us the League but have proved not to be the case. If we were that good we would thump teams 3 or 4-0 from time to time but we never do. The hope is a new man can squeeze an extra 10% out of the players we have to get us into the playoffs and the potential takeover results in substantial investment in the summer.

1

Fat_Boy_Tim added 07:09 - Mar 2 'Norwich for a short spell in the 1998/89 season' To be fair to him, he was that keen to get away from Norwich he left 9 years before he started.
4

dirtydingusmagee added 07:43 - Mar 2 dont honestly know much about him so wont prejudge him. just hope he can motivate and show some passion, and a bonus would be ,being able to understand him when he is interviewed.Good luck to him if he is appointed, he will need it if Evans dosnt sell .
1

aas1010 added 07:48 - Mar 2 Come on Ipswich!
0

blues1 added 08:00 - Mar 2 Grow ur own . What the hell are you on about? He has 3 promotions on his cv. Only reason hes not still at Wigan is bcse of the financial situation there. So he has no affiliation to Ipswich? Has people Guardiola any affinity to name city? Klopp tonlivetpool? Need I go on? Very few managers have an affinity to the club they join as manager . As for the rubbish about every time we pick a manager from the hall of fame we succeed? Rubbish. Weve only had 2 managers from there. Burley of course had a great 6 years but then cocked it up completely. And Magilton, who did very little.

2

blues1 added 08:02 - Mar 2 Arniem. Hes coming here bcse the club is being taken over. So he wont be working for Evan's, will he?
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MonkeyAlan added 08:33 - Mar 2 Why does he have to keep Gill and Walker? Can't he bring in his own people? Maybe Hunt etc. Are coming, But Lamberts staff is staying? Who has ok d this? Evans? If so what say have this so called consortium had? Can't see why Cook would want Lamberts old staff. Smacks of Evans still doing it on the cheap and him staying. No takeover, as long keep telling people.
1

Bluefox added 08:39 - Mar 2 While Paul Cook may be the best option we are going to get at this level, the style of football he has played does not sound to be what many fans are hoping for. According to Yorkshire Live: Management style Cook has tended to put his trust in a 4-2-3-1 formation during his managerial career, especially over the last couple of years at Wigan. He makes use of a sturdy double-pivot to help protect a traditional back four, with a physically robust defensive structure all-in-all. The focus is on defending first and going from there, which was particularly successful in the final weeks of last season, in which Cook's Latics registered 10 clean sheets from the last 14 matches. Last term, in particular, their play was geared around the out-ball to towering Wales international Kieffer Moore up front. Only Preston and QPR completed more long balls in the Championship last term. They're also drilled to be fiercely competitive, which can have its downsides in terms of disciplinary issues: only Wednesday and Birmingham committed more fouls last term, while they were dished out a league-high six red cards, as well as 85 yellows (fourth most).

1

1RWR added 08:43 - Mar 2 For heavens sake people, look where we are & who we have as an owner [for the time being]. Cook will be a great appointment [again, think where we are] if he does the business & we get the yanks in then that's a double whammy! Promotion & funds hopefully will breed success up to the promised land, then you can ask Klopp & Pep to come & manage us, until then, Paul Cook is nailed on as our new manager......accept it & revel in the surge! COYB!

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NorthLondonBlue2 added 09:14 - Mar 2 Does this mean we might win an FA cup game?
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Edmundo added 09:22 - Mar 2 Would be great to see Cook involve Dyer as his number 2, with a new backroom and extensive scouting network that extends beyond Diss.
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