Paul Cook finally returns to management with Ipswich Town

Paul Cook has returned to management with Ipswich Town today, after months of links to every vacant seat in the EFL, the highly-regarded 54-year-old has opted to replace Paul Lambert at Portman Road.

Lambert, despite winning back-to-back games against fellow promotion pushers Hull and Doncaster, left Ipswich by mutual consent on Sunday with the club citing: “Significant differences of opinion.”

And Cook, who’s been on the shortlist for almost every available job in the Football League since he left Wigan at the end of last season, has opted to return to management with Ipswich, and has stated: “Winning promotion this season is the immediate target.”

Ipswich were relegated from the Championship under Lambert in 2018/19, and after an 11th placed League One finish last season following a runaway start, they have failed to make any real dent on the automatic promotion places this term.

Cook, who managed Wigan last season, gained huge plaudits for his job with the Latics, earning them promotion from League One in his first year, before completing an extraordinary escape act last season to avoid relegation, only to be denied by a late points penalty.

Cook will watch tonight’s clash with Accrington Stanley from the stands before taking his first training session on Thursday, but the Liverpool-born managers first port of call was to send his best wishes to his predecessors.

“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,” Cook said. “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.”