Christian Burgess reveals his Paul Cook to Wigan disappointment - and what could have been had Portsmouth's title winners stayed together

Speaking in the latest edition of Pompey Talk: The Podcast, the former Blues defender said he was devastated to learn that the club’s 2016-17 League Two title-winning manager was swapping Fratton Park for Wigan’s DW Stadium.

Cook moved to the Latics less than a month after Pompey celebrated winning the league championship following a final-day thumping of Cheltenham.

He joined the already departed Enda Stevens and Michael Doyle – key players in the league success – in seeking a new challenge elsewhere.

And Burgess admitted the news was hard to take, especially as he had consumed himself in the manager’s coaching philosophy since signed by Cook from Peterborough in 2015.

SEE ALSO: Burgess claims Pompey were too slow in offering him fresh Fratton Park terms

The defender, who himself left the Blues this summer, said: ‘It was honestly really disappointing, really disappointing, because I really enjoyed the way we played, I liked him as a coach.

‘He was tough at times, but I really appreciated his tactical nous, the way his philosophy was and the way he kept at it.

‘You know, he wouldn't change things, he played they way he believed in and I really appreciated that.

‘I think we formed a good bond, and when he went it was, yeah, really disappointing.

‘I think I remember, I found out Enda was going, and I was devastated as well because I knew how good a player he was.

‘And then you start thinking: “Phew, the group looks like it going to be broken up quite a bit”.

‘And then there were rumours of Benno (Kyle Bennett) leaving, and a couple of others - some of the older boys were on their way as well - and it was like all change.

‘And then you don’t know what to expect and you wait to see who the new manager is.

‘You have to apply yourself as a professional from then on in.

‘But then, of course, when I saw that Cookie was almost rumoured to be leaving, I was texting round the guys and seeing if it was true, what they had heard.

‘You hear different things and when I saw it officially I was really disappointed.

‘But that's football, people move on, and like I say, you have to be professional.’

Burgess, who is currently plying his trade with Belgian second-tier outfit Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, played 45 games for Pompey that title-winning season and formed a formidable central defensive partnership with Matt Clarke,

With Cook’s managerial replacement, Kenny Jackett, then putting his on stamp on the Blues squad, the side that lined up against Rochdale on the opening day of the 2017-18 League One season was very much different to that which beat Cheltenham 6-1 just two months earlier.

The Blues finished their first year back in the third tier in eighth position.

But Burgess believes back-to-back promotions could have been achieved if Cook & Co had not departed.

He added: ‘For me, it felt like when we were promoted, we had a load of momentum, we were playing some of the best football we had played during those last nine or so games, and I remember we had played teams above us in the league, we had played Championship teams, and we were just as good at times.

‘We could keep up with them and I remember thinking “I think League One might be easier to get out of if we play this sort of football, if we keep the same group together we can carry that momentum”.

‘I remember thinking "there's not many teams up there who would look like they could stop us”

‘But of course it wasn’t to be.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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