New CEO Mark Ashton believes Paul Cook is absolutely the right manager for Town, but knows there will be pressure to succeed next season as there will be on other bosses at League One’s bigger clubs.

Asked whether he has complete faith in Cook, the Liverpudlian having been as critical of anyone of his own performance since he took charge at Town in March, Ashton said: “Look, it's a results-based industry for managers, we know that.

“I've known Paul on the circuit for a number of years, he's someone I've admired actually for a number of years and I think he was absolutely the right manager for this football club, it's what this football club needs and I'm excited to get the opportunity to work with him and help him.

“But my word, he sets a tempo himself, he works hard, he has real passion and wants to take this football club forward on the pitch.”

Ashton says there will be pressure on Cook but believes that comes with the territory: “Yeah, there will. But if you're at Sunderland, if you're at Sheffield Wednesday, if you're at Rotherham, there will be pressure everywhere on all managers.

“They understand that that's the world they live in. But we give people time, we work with them and that's the only way you can build sustainable success.

“You've got to put the foundations into place. You've got to do it properly. And if you do that and you're resilient in doing that, and you keep doing the right things every single day, we'll get success.”

Photos: Matchday Images/James Ager

Suffolkboy added 17:26 - Jun 1 Correct ! Implement please ! COYB
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Monkey_Blue added 19:17 - Jun 1 Read the pieces from Ashton and it's encouraging and he's saying all the right things. I thought Cook was a good appointment initially. I far from convinced Cook is the man to lead us forward based on what I've seen and heard since he was appointed. Will Cook accept someone as a signing if it's not his idea based on everyone else's input?( my contact in the club said that was Keanes issue, we only signed players he suggested) He doesn't seem the type. We are also his 7th club in less than 14 years of management…. That includes a few years in Ireland. Does that scream long term project leader? I'm enthused with what Ashton has said about the long term although he's going to be positive first day. I just think this project screams out for a progressive manager, who is willing to adapt and learn.

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blues1 added 21:33 - Jun 1 Monkeyblue. Cook cannot be judged on what's happened since hes been here so far. Anyone who judges him based on the unprofessionalism shown by the players when they were challenged, is being ridiculous. As for ur point about cook acceoting players hes doesnt want? U clearly havent read ths whole interview, as Ashton made it clear that only players Cook wants, will be signed.

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tempzzzz added 12:48 - Jun 3 @Monkey_Blue So he'll identify the targets, and then it's your job form there? “No, he's part of it. Whether it's Paul, his staff, the scouts, relationships that we have, it's a funnel. All the names will go into the funnel and they will be measured against Paul's technical specifications and what comes out of that are players that we believe will be right for this football club. “But what we won't do, no player at first-team level will come into the football club without Paul Cook saying he wants them, and we don't work like that because I just don't believe in that. “He has to say yes, he wants that player. There will never be shocks or surprises because he'll be part of the process all the way through, and when we get to the endpoint, and we agree that's the player we want, it then goes to me to do the negotiation and the financial piece.”

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