Town boss Paul Cook believes supporters will be delighted with the changes he, owner Marcus Evans and general manager Lee O’Neill are putting in place for the summer, including the change of approach to recruitment announced this morning, however, he was keen not to go into too much detail with his main focus on the final 10 games of the season.

Quizzed on his thoughts on the announcement that the Blues will be taking a more data and statistics-led approach to recruitment going forward, Cook said: “I just want to concentrate on the present. All I can reiterate to you guys is that when I had my Zoom call with Marcus, when I spoke to Lee, the plans we’ve got or we spoke about for the club are going to be very, very exciting. I think the fans will be absolutely delighted.

“But that must remain for the summer and ongoing. We’re very much in the present now, and I have to concentrate on that.”

Cook says he gained a greater insight into the importance of this approach to recruitment at his previous club.

“It’s something I learnt so much about at Wigan Athletic, I really did,” he reflected. “Jonathan Jackson, our CEO there, was very forward-thinking. I was very much, not negative-thinking, but I wasn’t pro-recruitment rooms.

“But going forward now, recruitment is absolutely huge in football, it really, really is and you’ve got to embrace it.

“As I say, I think, for me, I’ll sit on the fence if I can. I think our supporters, what Marcus and Lee are about to propose doing, the changes that will come in the summer at the training ground and everywhere else, I think our supporters will be delighted.

“But, as I say, I think our supporters will also be more concerned with what’s going on in the next 10 games and we’ve got to concentrate on trying to win some.”

Asked if he’s involved at the heart of the plans, Cook responded: “I’m involved in them. Again, I’ve got to say, I see owners get criticised and I’m not going to go into that, but I don’t understand sometimes the criticism that Marcus has had at the club.

“I just look at the investment he’s put in, continuing even through the pandemic and all the problems.

“The fans are always entitled to their opinion, without a shadow of a doubt, I get that. I’ve only heard so much positivity from Marcus about the club and the plans going forward that I’m actually excited. Let’s put it all together in the future but also let’s also get in these play-offs.”

Cook was asked whether he learns something every day at Town, not just the matches but the training sessions. Does he learn something about the players, the staff, the processes at the club?

“Again, I think what’s come out in the media this morning about the recruitment room,” Cook continued. “You can see in football, the big clubs, the best clubs they function so well. Everything just rolls into one. We've got to make sure we put Ipswich Town on that page.

“When our whole club just flows, our supporters know what goes on, everything about us is not an open book, but we're the best at everything we can be the best at.

“Going forward, that's for tomorrow, a 100 per cent that's for tomorrow. Today we have a squad of players that, over a period of time, a lot has been said about them.

“The new challenge is for them now over the next 10 games and let's wait and see and see what can happen for us in a positive way.”

He added: “It's hard for a manager, especially when you come in. That's the thing for managers and I'm not doing well at the minute with results, I get it.

“I lie awake screaming and searching for the answers, but I also know what the next tomorrow looks like for us as a club.

“And I can guarantee our supporters the summer is going to be exciting and it's going to be vibrant, there are going to be changes at the club where everyone will be like but can we do that as a Championship club that's my challenge.”

Does he feel he has a two-pronged approach at present, on the one hand having to concentrate on the 10 games, but also looking at the longer-term plans?

“I think the big attraction for me when I met Marcus was the longer-term approach that we're looking at,” he said.

“I've got to say that it wasn't a case of ‘we must do this and we must do that’. It was ‘can’t we work together?’, with Lee O'Neill's help and a lot of other people at the club who go unnoticed that people don't really see and work every so hard. Because good clubs have a lot of good people at them. Ipswich Town has that.

“Going forward, my job is to help Marcus and Lee, and their job is to help me. And then together, we can hopefully offer a really bright future for the fans, and that future must be in the play-offs this year. If we don't get in the play-offs, I'll feel like I've failed this season.”

Photo: TWTD

blues1 added 16:33 - Apr 1 My God. Some of the idiots who post on here, claiming to be fans. So, at last we have a manager, who it appears based on his experience elsewhere, has got Evan's to look at the recruitment at the club, and to change the way it's done, and all you lot do is slag the club off. And say you wont renew ur season tickets. Yer, that makes sense. Seems we're gonna be looking to bring players in, and so called fans withdraw their financial support. Which, in turn, means less money available to get in the players we undoubtedly need. But then you'll be slagging Evan's off for not spending enough.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 17:11 - Apr 1 Blues1 ready to apologise yet after asking me to get my facts right about ffp? You may be ready enough to believe yet another pre season set of promises from the owner but some aren't, does that make us stupid or you?? Believing anything that man says after 14 years of decline is like those idiots who after a year of covid still can't wear a mask properly! You come out with a lot of slagging off fans on here because they don't agree with you OR because you think they've got their facts wrong whatever doesn't make me any less of a fan because I'm sick of decline. If a plumber sh!ts in your sink after fixing it you don't praise him for the job?? Same here with evans I'm still waiting for one of you to tell the rest WHY you think he's done a good job? After 14 years of decline

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:22 - Apr 1 I can understand peoples scepticism. Maybe he is going to recruit players who can manage 90 mins of football, can run more than 8 k and have some turn of speed, don't breakdown injured and are basically fit enough to do bak to back training sessions. The stats for those attributes are all available no doubt.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:24 - Apr 1 Are there stats for fighting spirit, enthusiasm, initiative and drive?
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Countryboyblue added 17:41 - Apr 1 I really like PC, and I so desperately want to support him, but my time is 100% up with our owner. I will not be renewing my 46th year season ticket. If a takeover happens, then I would happily pay double.
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alfromcol added 17:53 - Apr 1 Sad that some on here won't renew their season tickets, sadder still that they have to tell us all!!!
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blues1 added 17:58 - Apr 1 Beattiesbackpocket. What are you on about regarding ffp? Think my point was about the salary cap, and the pl payout. Not ffp. So yes, get ur facts right. And I've never said Evan's has done a great job. Hes clearly got things, wrong or we wouldnt be in lge1. But whether fans such as u like it or not, had he spent money the way ud like, wed have no club right now. So while I want him to go, I wont just slag him off for everything hes done or hasnt done. As for this matter, maybe itll work. Maybe it wont. I just dont understand why people simply slag him off for trying it. This is clearly something Cook has said he wants to happen, and Evan's has agreed to it( should he still be here). So why not just wait and see before criticising, that's my point.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:11 - Apr 1 Here you go Blues1 conversation after the Wigan shocker! eattiesBackPocket added 18:36 - Mar 27 If anyone on here continues to say this team is good enough for promotion you need to take a hard look at yourself. As does anyone who thinks evans is good for this club. How anyone can think the fact over 20 players possibly leaving for nothing is to going to mean anything other than us being in league one possibly lower for another couple of seasons is a good thing I don't know. It must surely show that those still supporting evans we have no structure no ‘FIVE POINT PLAN' nothing. it's a massive rebuild now with that sheer amount of players leaving. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't keep any players but underfunding for years is why we don't have any decent players left. He's told us for years he'd invest but ffp means he can't well now ffp is being scrapped let's see what he does! blues1 added 18:58 - Mar 27 Beattiesbackpocket. Get ur facts right. Ffp isnt being g scrapped. Its still there. It's the salary cap that's being scrapped.

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therein61 added 18:16 - Apr 1 We have players that given the chance can excel for this club that have been held back under previous managers and 4&8 being involved in picking the team, get rid and let this club grow these two are the biggest waste of space i have seen in a town shirt.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:18 - Apr 1 In plain sight 🤷‍♂️ As I say I've been going for 40 years since standing on a crate in the old north standing area last 30 years season ticket even this season and at least 10 away games every year. You lambast people for not being supporters etc just because they've had enough. 7th manager in under his 14 years, promises every time every season that are broken, an owner who told us practically to shut up and be careful what you wish for over lambert until lambert came out and said the club has no structure and not run well then he gets rid funny that!? I'll support them always even this season paying out knowing damn well we weren't gonna see many if any games this season so I don't need you or anyone else slagging me off for not wanting to give the owner his hundredth chance to build something there's no way in any other walk of life you or anyone would put up with constant promises being broken before you have enough!

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blues1 added 18:20 - Apr 1 Beattiesbackpocket. Yes, and I'm right. The ffp is still there. As i said, it's the salary cap that's been scrapped. Not ffp. .
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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:21 - Apr 1 I'll support PC as I say he's screwed from the off of we lose near on 20 players that's a huge rebuilding that WILL need a lot of funding maybe if evans hadn't given mick the 5th lowest wage budget for two years or some money when we had a freak season top under him we wouldn't be moaning but enoughs enough he's bad for this club full stop
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rfretwell added 18:43 - Apr 1 Amazing really that all of a sudden "recruitment" and how to do it properly is the clubs new buzzword. Our recruitment has largely been terrible under ME. If Johnathan Jackson is so good and forward thinking start by trying to recruit him to knock our club into shape.
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dieselmorris added 18:56 - Apr 1 read what edwards said about his contract situation, there is a lot going on at the club could that be a cryptic clue to what is going on.and i agree with beattie evans has been the death of this club, just a charlatan, and there are still people that think he has been good for us. this man has constantly underfunded the most important part of the club and conned the fans and me.

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chopra777 added 18:57 - Apr 1 I bet they are going to get 11 hypnosists to hypnotise our players to play well and score a hat full of goals. 😂
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90z added 19:10 - Apr 1 The big news is that Evans has put him self up for being a Human target for our strikers on the training ground.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 20:08 - Apr 1 Blues1 what planet are you on I put up a link it's been in the news it's been scrapped whilst thinking of a new idea for clubs you can google it? So you are WRONG so get your facts right 🙄😂😂 I'll find it for you again pal. This is just one place but was on sky sports last week. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/25/football You guys will have to think of something else soon first it was ‘there's no buyers for the club' ‘he's not a tax dodger' all completely proven otherwise even on this site past week

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bluesince76 added 20:21 - Apr 1 The only thing that will delight me is new ownership had enough of the spin at this club.
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Dissboyitfc added 20:27 - Apr 1 Cook says:- “I lie awake screaming and searching for the answers" Lambert said:- I dont wake up in the morning thinking that i must win a game of football! Been to cushy for the players and the manager for too long, the changes cant come soon enough!
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KMANSers added 21:11 - Apr 1 This stinks of utter bullsh/t yet again before season ticket sales, hope I'm wrong as it will also cast a low opinion of PC from the fans being sucked in by the inept owner and his puppet side kick. And let that merry-go-round spin a little longer! FOR ALL THAT ARE THINKING THEY ARE SUPPORTING THIS ONCE GREAT CLUB BY BUYING A SEASON TICKET DON'T BE MUGGED OFF AS YOU ARE JUST AS GUILTY OF KEEPING M.E. IN OWNERSHIP- 14 years of facts don't lie- there's just no justification in supporting this failure!

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istanblue added 21:22 - Apr 1 Love PC's genuine enthusiasm but he needs to realise that Evans and O'Neill are deadweight's that are holding the club back. Them leaving in the summer would be the best changes any supporter could ask for. #EvansOut #PELeeOut
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blues1 added 21:47 - Apr 1 Beattiesbackpocket. Fair play to you. Havent seen that before. So couldnt have known. As for tax Dodger? Hows that been proved on this site. The fact he bought the training ground through his Jersey based company, which means hed have paid less tax, isnt tax dodging, in the way you mean it. It's just normal, and sensible business practice. Are you telling me that you wouldnt do the same to save tax on something you bought, if you could?

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blues1 added 21:50 - Apr 1 Beattiesbackpocket. Tho actually, having just googled it, the football league ffp is still in place, tho the rules have been relaxed.
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blues1 added 21:55 - Apr 1 Beattiesbackpocket. Oh, if you dont believe me, google "football league ffp".
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:03 - Apr 1 every year around this time Evans dresses up as Father Christmas , and tries to lure the kids [the fans] to sit on his lap while he promises he will give them whatever they want if they are good boys and girls and believe in him . Even the managers get the same treatment. Every year the kids wake up [at some point ] and wonder where their f#cking bike is .Sorry PC looks like you have been duped too ,like the managers that have gone before you . You will wake up ,open the box under the tree ,and there will be a smaller box , and then another and another and so on . EVANS OUT

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