Ex-Portsmouth boss Paul Cook appointed manager at promotion rivals Ipswich Town

Paul Cook during his Wigan Atheltic days.

The Tractor Boys have today announced that former Pompey and Wigan Athletic boss Paul Cook will take the reins at Portman Road.

The 54-year-old has signed a contract until the summer of 2023.

Ipswich are currently ninth in League One before tonight's fixtures and sit five points behind Cook’s former club Portsmouth, who occupy fourth ahead of tonight's clash against Doncaster Rovers.

Indeed, Cook has experience in the third-tier having guided the Latics to the League One title in 2018 after winning League Two with Portsmouth in 2017.

Cook was linked with the Sunderland job after Phil Parkinson’s sacking by the bookies before the appointment of Lee Johnson.

Cook, however, will now take over the reins in East Anglia in direct competition with Pompey and Sunderland.

“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 told the Ipswich's website.

“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.”