Paul Cook confirmed as new Ipswich manager
Ipswich Town's appointed its new manager.
The former Portsmouth and Wigan boss has signed a contract until the summer of 2023 and becomes the 18th manager in the Club’s history.
It follows the departure of Paul Lambert, and assistant manager, Stuart Taylor, on Sunday night.
The club said the pair left by 'mutual consent' after significant differences in opinion.
Replacement Paul Cook had a long career as a player, experiencing the Premier League with Coventry as well as spells at Wolves, Burnley and Wigan amongst others as he clocked up more than 700 first-team appearances.
His managerial career has seen him enjoy promotions at all three of his most recent clubs, with Chesterfield as League Two winners in 2013/14; at Portsmouth in 2016/17 - again as League Two champions - and at Wigan, where he guided them to the League One title in 2017/18.
Town owner Marcus Evans said: “I’m delighted to announce that Paul Cook is our new manager.
“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 on-going 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.”
Paul will be in the stands to watch Town play at Accrington tonight before taking the players for training for the first time on Thursday.
It was confirmed yesterday that first-team coach Matt Gill would be looking after the team for their match tonight.
Paul Cook said: “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.
“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.”