Boss Paul Cook says the Blues’ pre-season plans are 90-to-95 per cent already in place with the squad set to be back at Playford Road to get their preparations for the new campaign under way six weeks prior to 2021/22's start on the weekend of Saturday 7th August.

“As far as I’m aware I think nearly probably 90 per cent, 95 per cent is absolutely nailed down and done in terms of dates back, in terms of where we’re going, who we’re playing etc,” he said.

“I’m sure the club will be announcing all that stuff at some point because I think one of the most exciting things at the minute is the fact that fans are going to return. We’re all desperate for fans to return to football.

“I pride myself on fitness, I think as a manager, a coach, a club we want to know that our players will run a race, if you like.

“Football and sport now is an industry where data and analysis is so readily available and that comes from training, and we’ve got to work really hard.

“As you guys know, everyone wants to beat Ipswich and this team. Everyone wants to beat Sunderland, everyone wants to beat Portsmouth. That’s just part and parcel of working and playing and being involved with big clubs.

“So we’ve got to make sure that everything we can do that gives us that chance to just get ahead of our opposition, we make sure we do it.”

Asked when precisely the squad will be back, Cook says that will be in the final week of June: “I’d love to tell you the date, we actually report back six weeks before the start of the season [on August 7th], so whatever date that is, you can look at it six weeks before that.

“The reality for the lads is that they will have six weeks of intense training, doing all the tactics, all the fitness, all everything that we expect from them in the season.

“That first game of the season, hopefully we’re drawn at home. Hopefully to another big club in the league, ie whoever comes down, and we can see a packed Portman Road with a team on the pitch that we’re all excited about and looking forward to watching play.”

Cook says that it’s unlikely there’ll be the usual pre-season training camp due to the pandemic.

“With what’s gone on in the world, possibly not,” he said. “A training camp is something that I do enjoy, especially if new players have come in.

“But fortunately we’re at hopefully the end of Covid nearly, aren’t we? The lights have just started flickering. Hopefully that can be a great day. But that will probably result in us staying at home this summer, I would imagine.”

Photo: Matchday Images

ArnieM added 14:42 - May 7 And there you have it. A Plan A strategy A goal PC has 7 weeks from the end of Sunday's last game, to the new squad reporting back for pre season training. Then just 7 weeks to get the new squad up and running as one single cohesive group , forced on one goal: Promotion. COYBs Let's do this
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kuyski added 15:55 - May 7 Sound like some good target players is deal done already?
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bedsitfc added 18:04 - May 7 So far very disappointed with what he has done, let's hope he does better net season because at the moment all he is going is talking the talk and not doing the walk
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ArnieM added 18:13 - May 7 Over the last few weeks he's had to assess over 50 professional players at this club , plus the back room staff . He's also tried to get various combinations of players to perform and win games . Based on the last 3 years , where this squad has basically played a version of “ walking football “, they've shown themselves to be incapable of adapting to any formation snd style of play the manager has used in an effort to get the best out them . “The squad “ are doing exactly what they have done for the past 3 years - f luck all. Why do you suddenly expect them to be promotion material ? It was never going to happen . The players have been stealing a living from ITFC and playing the fans for mugs . Well guess what , Paul Cook has called their bluff and Monday they'll be out of work . Whose fault is it? ......, 100% the players .

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Cakeman added 18:49 - May 7 Well said ArnieM. Paul Cook has done really well in a very short space of time although results suggest different. Not only has he had to sort the small amount of wheat from the large volume of chaff, he has had to deal with the uncertainty that new owners inevitably bring. Looks to me as he is now ready to stamp his mark on the club and the way forward. It is exciting to look forward to what players we shall have next season.

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itsonlyme added 19:18 - May 7 Cant wait for next season. I'm upset I cant renew my season ticket yet. Got to hold onto my money for another week or so lol?
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BettyBlue added 19:46 - May 7 Who on earth does the Messiah think is good enough to play his amazing football?? Hardly likely to amass a completely new squad that is not dissimilar to the squad of misfits, journeymen and leftovers from what he's already got. We are the laughing stock of the third division, how do you attract anyone after this season? We have another numpty in charge.
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Bergholt_Blue added 19:52 - May 7 Colchester Coggeshall Southend Luton Notts County
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JewellintheTown added 22:41 - May 7 Very few players deserve a break as many have had a rest for most of the season. Should be on double training to catch up go the standard they should be performing at.
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Town4me added 08:02 - May 8 Kuyski- I think he means in terms of plans rather than any done deals for players.
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WeWereZombies added 09:24 - May 8 Anyone else disappointed by the emphasis on football as an industry?
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daniel2991 added 10:53 - May 8 @bedsitfc I think it's unfair to judge him, as this isn't his team! I'm excited to see what happens over the summer, in terms of player recruitment.
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Monkey_Blue added 11:22 - May 8 It's fair to judge Cook on the basis of his poor results and poor man management. The fact he's telling players he knows if they are staying or going weeks back and hasn't let them know yet is not admirable. As soon as we couldn't make the play-offs any decent manager and human being would have told them. Why this X-Factor style nonsense. Also I'm sure he jus described Pre-season in the same way every manager does, but for some anything he says is somehow genius.

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Karlosfandangal added 11:36 - May 8 Cook my have the targets but I think he may be lucky to get them all by the time pre season starts. A lot of club won't let players go till the have replaced them. So I think fans will have to be patient as it my be a couple of months before the all start to gel. The new owners said they would like promotion next season and least the following one. Think Town fans need to be a little patient with the team as I can't see us winning every game 5-0 and walking away with the league. There is already negative comments on here about Cook, I don't think we can judge him or the owners till we have had a couple of Transfer windows. The great Sir Bobby a couple of season to build his team and get rid of some of the players that thought they ran the club. Exciting time ahead with the club getting Ed as a sponsor and Kieran Dyer move up to the 1st team

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Edmundo added 13:39 - May 8 The Youtubers and Instagram crowd expect instant results. Those of us who remember 3 tv channels and the Cup Final being on all day know it'll take time. Exciting times though...
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Linkboy13 added 18:49 - May 8 Vitally important Cook gets his squad assembled before pre season training starts which is going to be difficult. I see Martyn Waghorn played for Derby today and scored from the penalty spot. Would be very surprised if he joined us got far too much quality for league one football. I know for a fact his wife and family absolutely love the area.
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