Town have confirmed the appointment of Paul Cook as manager on a contract which runs until the summer of 2023.

“I’m delighted to announce that Paul Cook is our new manager,” Town owner Marcus Evans told the club site.

“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 ongoing 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.”

Cook will be in the stands at Accrington this evening to watch his new players in action against a club where he was both a player and a manager. He will take training for the first time tomorrow.

“First I want to wish Paul [Lambert] and Stuart [Taylor] all the best for the future. I know them both and it’s a hard business, football,” Cook added.

“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.

“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.”

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.

Cook had 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.

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.

After leaving Wigan, Cook had 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 becomes 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.

As previously reported, former Blues winger Gary Roberts, coincidentally a player with tonight’s opponents Accrington, is set for a role on the staff, while ex-Town forward Noel Hunt has also been under consideration for a position with previous members of Cook's 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.

General manager of football operations Lee O’Neill yesterday confirmed that current caretaker-manager Matt Gill and keeper-coach Jimmy Walker are set to stay at Town.

Photo: ITFC

BeattiesBackPocket added 13:52 - Mar 2 Excellent appointment and nice to have someone on board who has had other offers but chosen us. A chance at a big club means he has the chance to prove himself still. Looking forward to the football he plays and hopefully some much needed investment on the horizon because if we're talking about another manager struggling we should all know where the blame lies.

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ChrisFelix added 13:55 - Mar 2 For you doubters look at his record in the lower leagues including the FA cup. On the cup topic remember the ties against Portsmouth in 2016 when we were still an established Championship side
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Foreverdon_Blue added 13:58 - Mar 2 This is a great appointment and for the first time in quite a while I feel positive about the future of ITFC!
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Suffolkboy added 13:58 - Mar 2 Do not know his strengths yet ; but let's look at history and it appears he's melded groups of people into successful units which have performed well and gained valuable points ,as well as winning trophies . Nowhere have I read of ‘trouble at t'mill ‘ ,so guess he's a good motivator ,a clean thinker and an equally good all rounder . One hopes he proves an easier communicator ,a more eager and enthusiastic communicator and provides the sort of clarity and unqualified honesty which supporters appreciate ,and which will enhance the playing / academy ambience too ! Let's give him the warmest of genuine welcomes to our Super Blues ! COYB

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GeoffSentence added 14:02 - Mar 2 A big welcome back to Gary Roberts too, lets hope he can sort things out on the pitch tonight ;)
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GeoffSentence added 14:02 - Mar 2 A big welcome back to Gary Roberts too, lets hope he can sort things out on the pitch tonight ;)
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Linkboy13 added 14:21 - Mar 2 Its always a gamble who ever is appointed as manager. But this time we've appointed one who has had a lot of success unlike Paul Lambert who was on a succession of failures. Cook could easily have taken a job in the championship Sheffield Wednesday were interested so we have got to be proud he chose us.
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braveblue added 14:26 - Mar 2 Good news. Promising on the basis Evans goes soon. If he stays PC will become another casualty. When Evans says we have as good a squad of players as any in the division what is he basing that on? His extensive football knowledge? Our results last year and this season? He lives in a world of make believe.
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MonkeyAlan added 14:28 - Mar 2 Welcome and good luck. You will need it. Marcus doesn't sound like he is going anywhere in that statement. In which case you will need a miracle.
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Billericay12 added 14:30 - Mar 2 Good luck to Paul Cook. As all you Suffolk boys say “time to get on with the old job”
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warksonwater added 14:31 - Mar 2 Jewell, Hurst and Lambert had a-paul-ing records with Town. Let's hope the new boss won't be the same as the old boss (Who said that?), and will cook up something different.
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JCBLUE added 14:31 - Mar 2 Good appointment, here we go .....
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chepstowblue added 14:32 - Mar 2 I'll admit to being about as excited as when Mick,Hurst, Lambert took charge. I'm still not expecting to win promotion this season, or champions league success within 3yrs, or East Anglia to host the world cup in 2034. Surely until a new owner is in place Paul Cook will be the next in a long line of managers who receive zero backing from the top, and after a pleasant few months with the backing of the supporters will then feel their wrath also. Whilst it's far from the dawn of a new era I wish good luck to Paul Cook and hope for an upturn in our fortunes.... tempered with.... 'you cant polish a turd' !

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runningout added 14:32 - Mar 2 Brill. didn't think it would go through at one stage.
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Blocker123 added 14:34 - Mar 2 Great news!!! BTW... does anyone know if he's been given a 5yr contract extension yet?😂🤣😂🤣😂👍🏻
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istanblue added 14:35 - Mar 2 Good appointment. I genuinely think our play-off push is now back on track. Beyond that though we would struggle in the Championship with Evans at the helm. Hopefully the appointment of Cook is a part of the takeover deal.
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Marinermagic added 14:50 - Mar 2 At least that's done and good Luck to this Paul. I cannot wait to hear Brenda Wally on Radio Suffolk creeping round him - watch out for the brown nose Paul.
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ghostofescobar added 15:12 - Mar 2 Welcome Paul. We are a good club, great fans, decent ground, good training facilities, an amazing history, but we've fallen on hard times a little. We need a boost. Something to smile about. To get excited about. A bit of respect back. It's a tough ask, there's a lot more wrong with the club than just results on the pitch, but we desperately need some results on the pitch. Be honest, be humble, get us playing well, and we'll get along fine! All the best. COYB!!

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mib added 15:14 - Mar 2 Not at all impressed as I dont think that his CV is that impressive, lets see what he can produce with the same lack of player investment the other managers had. I admire Lambert because just recently I think he had the guts to stand up to Evans and told him what he thought of his running of the football club.
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spanishblue added 15:17 - Mar 2 Looks very likely we are going to get a very big surprise at the outcome of this, we could be flying very soon book your seats, not sure wether to laugh or cry from what I've just heard
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Blocker123 added 15:21 - Mar 2 Spanishblue... what did you hear????🤔🤔🤔
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TractorBeezer added 15:27 - Mar 2 Welcome Paul and Gary. Things are looking brighter!
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warktheline added 15:41 - Mar 2 So many blindsided by an appointment of a new manager! Sell up Evans, and give ‘any' manager a fair crack at succeeding with our club!
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johnwarksshorts added 15:47 - Mar 2 Welcome to our great club Paul. COYB!
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blue86 added 15:52 - Mar 2 Pleased with this, welcome to town Paul Cook!
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