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

dirtydingusmagee added 15:54 - Mar 2 as ive said before only things i know about him is his cv from reading it on here,so not going to pretend i know he is the man. We can all hope thats all, A lot of people on here wetting their knickers over this, its going to put a lot of pressure on him, When the dust settles ,remember the main cause for the clubs decline is Evans, and unless he is prepared to invest i fear Paul Cook will be swimming against the tide, GOOD LUCK PAUL, A win tonight will present you with a fighting chance. COYB.

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mib added 16:06 - Mar 2 Cakeman , if he doesnt put up with fools how is he going to get on with Evans?
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rdibble added 16:06 - Mar 2 cookies army!!!
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blues1 added 16:07 - Mar 2 Bluearmy81. For gods sake man. Cant you just for once just say something positive, like welcome the guy to the club, instead of using every single post to keep up ur Evan's slagfest. Presumably you wont ever be coming on here in a few weeks time when the takeover is completed. After all, you'll having nothing to say.
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blues1 added 16:14 - Mar 2 Arc. Do u ever read the stories on here? The takeover is in the hands of the efl for ratification. So yes, this very much the decision of the new owners.
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therein61 added 16:16 - Mar 2 Welcome Paul i wish you great success at our great club!! Now then Boris get the fans back in.
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TimmyH added 16:25 - Mar 2 Well that was a quick appointment so no doubt this has been in the pipeline I feel for the last week or so (maybe from PL's spouting of the structure at this club). I feel more positive about this appointment than the last 2 in Hurst and Lambert though that might not be saying a lot. Regardless of whether Evans stays or anew consortium comes in I did want to see a new manager in asap just to see if somebody else can get more out of this squad at this level compared to Lambert. Anyway all the best and 4th time lucky for a Paul (in the last decade).

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:38 - Mar 2 I feel a little sorry for PL. After all, in a sense, he was the catalyst for change. He meant well and maybe because he rocked the boat with the owner, ME realised that things had to move on. OK, he wasn't successful on the pitch (which was the main problem), and nor was he a very good communicator. But he's said some very positive things about the club and the fans as well, so I feel he was somewhat misunderstood. But, yes, it was time for a change and welcome PC. I just hope history doesn't repeat itself in 6 months' time. Surely this time, we will have a lucky Paul. COYB!

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Bert added 16:58 - Mar 2 Pleased that the last few months and years are now in the past and I welcome Paul Cook as I have every manager. Let's hope the playing style and vision match the words of Evans. I rarely agree with anything that Bluearmy81 says but on this occasion there is a need for not just a change in manager but at the very least a change in the owner's leadership or a sale to a credible new owner. A little positivity would however be welcome !

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Blue_Meanie added 17:06 - Mar 2 Welcome Paul; 3 points guaranteed tonight. Lump on!!
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chopra777 added 17:07 - Mar 2 Welcome Mr Cook. Hope you have a receipe for success!
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Marinersnose added 17:08 - Mar 2 Firstly welcome Paul Cook I hope that you will be a resounding success at this fantastic club. Secondly and most importantly I hope and pray that ME steps aside to allow a much needed takeover so that you will have the freedom and tools to be an effective and successful manager. Good luck. Hopefully a massive clearing of players in the Summer.
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HarleydavidsonBlue added 17:11 - Mar 2 A very big welcome to the club Paul. A New manager, possible new owners? Lockdown coming to an end, sun is shining. Spring just around the corner. The future is looking bright. As the old saying goes, Fortune favours the brave. Come On You Blues.
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happybeingblue added 17:14 - Mar 2 welcome to good old suffark buh we got fed up of lamberts squit...uppa towen
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runaround added 17:14 - Mar 2 Welcome to Portman Road Paul Cook! Made up about this. Just the takeover to come to make it perfect and give the club a fresh start
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Skip73 added 17:16 - Mar 2 This is a good appointment. Welcome and Good Luck.
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barrystedmunds added 17:20 - Mar 2 No guarantees in life, even less so in football. Not overly excited about the appointment, but let's hope this is THE one. ME has a awful record in this department so I'm not holding my breath, but I'd be delighted to be proved wrong, time will tell. COYB
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planetblue_2011 added 17:22 - Mar 2 Hooray! welcome Paul Cook👍👏😀
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bbg added 17:22 - Mar 2 An excellent choice in my opinion. I dont for one minute believe McCarthy and Lambert were bad choices either. A lot have commented that Paul Cook might be worried about the stewardship of the existing owner and neither he nor fans can be certain about what the next owners will bring. However, I suspect just as big a concern for him or any manager in the current environment at this club, will be the fans and how long it will take for them to turn on him. Will he be allowed a bad run? It appears nowadays the solution is always to change the manager. The history of this and the vast majority of successful clubs is managerial stability. The only thing that worries me is the short length of the contract.

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DerryfromBury added 17:27 - Mar 2 Welcome aboard PC. Please Please Please sort out the wheat from the chaff as your first priority. To many players comfortable with their lot.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 17:32 - Mar 2 Decent appointment I think. Welcome and good luck.
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Buryblue78 added 17:39 - Mar 2 welcome and good luck Paul somebody please change the Ipswich Town poll on this page He's only been here a few hours for Gods' sake
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heathen66 added 17:41 - Mar 2 Welcome to Portman Road Paul (mkIII) I hope you enjoy your time here and give us something to cheer with a brand of attacking football that we can be proud of. I am not sure we ask of much more to be honest. Yes we want a winning side but hopefully not by holding out for 70 mins and just hoping to pinch something !!! Hopefully you have a plan as to how we can move this club forward !!!

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warktheline added 17:43 - Mar 2 .....and if by some miracle Cook achieves promotion , ‘with a squad as good as any in div 1'🤔....what thereafter Evans? Evans out!
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leftie1972 added 17:44 - Mar 2 Congratulations Paul and welcome to our club!
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