Town have confirmed the appointment of former winger Gary Roberts as first-team coach, TWTD having revealed that the 36-year-old was set to be a part of incoming boss Paul Cook’s staff on Sunday.

Roberts rejoined this evening’s opponents Accrington on a short-term deal in January but has left by mutual consent with immediate effect to work for Cook alongside Matt Gill and keeper-coach Jimmy Walker, who will be remaining at the club.

Liverpool-born Roberts joined the Blues from Stanley initially on loan in October 2006 and went on to make 45 starts and 14 sub appearances for Town, scoring four times before departing for Huddersfield in July 2008. He subsequently played for Cook at Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan.

“I’ve worked with Gary before and we are both looking forward to meeting up with all the other staff at Ipswich and working together to give us the best possible chance of winning promotion this season,” Cook told the club website.

Roberts is set to join Cook in the stands for this evening's game at the Wham Stadium.

Photo: Action Images

LWNR2013 added 13:10 - Mar 2 Good
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Europablue added 13:17 - Mar 2 Best of luck!
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blueinscotland added 13:17 - Mar 2 Pretty handy to have him ready for tonight, hopefully can give some insight into Accrington's tactics. Not too sure they'll be best pleased about that!
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sheepy606 added 13:18 - Mar 2 I thought he was 36 when he played for us...
20

DebsyAngel added 13:19 - Mar 2 Excellent news - really liked him as a player here and he will know a bit about the club. Good luck to him too.
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CraigEdwards added 13:23 - Mar 2 Player coach ! Still can do it at this level
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arc added 13:31 - Mar 2 It's a bit of a cobbled-together staff, isn't it? I hope they all see eye-to-eye. Lots of unknowns here. (Sorry, second negative post of the day–I had better have another cup of tea...)
3

CavendishBlue added 13:35 - Mar 2 This appears to be falling seemlessly into place now. Now it's down to the players.....OH DEAR!!!!
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Gilesy added 13:35 - Mar 2 Lambert's assumed carefully assembled team didn't go to plan!
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Unhinged_dynamo added 13:42 - Mar 2 Get him coaching the set pieces, absolute wand of a foot on him
5

VanDusen added 13:47 - Mar 2 One of the best wingers we've had outside the top flight. Should be a boon in terms of sharpening Bennetts' game. Agree we should get him registered too as expect he's be a handy sub, although not sure that is possible given it's outside the transfer window and he wasn't a free agent...
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hoppy added 13:48 - Mar 2 Arc - we never did too badly with a Cobbold-together staff in past years...
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Foreverdon_Blue added 14:01 - Mar 2 Good luck Gary and welcome aboard!
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Suffolkboy added 14:03 - Mar 2 Great ! Welcome back , it's still a lovely Club underneath all the superficial temporary ‘troubles ‘ ,and your enthusiasm will soon help turn the tables ! COYB
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DutchTractorboy added 14:03 - Mar 2 Fun fact: if we keep this tactic up of derailing our next opponent by appointing a playing member of their squad in a coaching rol at ITFC, Paul Cook will have a 17 men strong herd of first team coaches by the end of the season! I'll get my coat and show myself the door now...
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spanishblue added 14:08 - Mar 2 Yes but has he got a scientific fully fledged injury coach sorry I mean fitness coach, sorry ha the next month is going to be interesting
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PositivelyPortman added 14:10 - Mar 2 Two first team coaches now. I wonder why Evans is so keen to keep Gill and Jimmy whatshisname?
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osborne1nil added 14:13 - Mar 2 Welcome Paul and Gary to Ipswich Town. Glad we are keeping Matt Gill and Jimmy Walker too, as they both seem to be popular with players and good age keep developing coaching skills.
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Linkboy13 added 14:27 - Mar 2 Had a very good left foot and started very well playing on the right side. Never looked the same when Magilton played him on the left. Was also told by coach Steve Foley that he had problems keeping his weight down.
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SheptonMalletBlue added 14:49 - Mar 2 Fist Pumper will let them know who's in charge!!!
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itfchorry added 15:34 - Mar 2 Always liked Gary Roberts- Please bring your boots
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johnwarksshorts added 15:48 - Mar 2 Welcome back Gary.
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blue86 added 16:06 - Mar 2 Welcome back, and good luck!
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therein61 added 16:24 - Mar 2 "sheptonMalletblue" i reckon the fist pumper might be a tad worried he won't be able to walk all over cook like he has done Lambert and Hurst, Welcome back Gary enjoy your 2nd career with us, did you by any chance send Judge some of your free kick vids before Saturday's game!?
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Edmundo added 16:27 - Mar 2 Sort put the dressing room handbags and then let's give these last games everything. Nothing to lose for Paul Cook this season: it's as good as a free shot for him.
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