Former Portsmouth boss Paul Cook reveals latest position as talk of managerial return builds after Wigan exit

But the former Pompey boss admitted he may have to take a position lower down the league ladder as he seeks his next position.

Cook has been linked with the likes of Salford City and Mansfield of late, after leaving Wigan in August.

But the man who dramatically guided the Blues to the League Two title in 2017 believes he’s earned a shot at trying to get a second tier outfit into the Premier League.

Cook told Sky Sports News: ‘I’ve had a managerial career now that’s seen me go from Accrinton to Chesterfield to Portsmouth to Wigan.

‘Like any manager feels, I feel you should leave a club in a better place than when you started.

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‘I think I can look back in my time in management that I’ve done that at every club.

‘I’ve now been in the Championship for two years, and I would genuinely like the opportunity to manage a club that I feel can go into the Premier League.

‘For the English managers now, the opportunities to manage in the Premier League are very, very tough.

‘So to have the opportunity to take a team up is something I would love to try.

‘I’d love to be given the opportunity to do that, because you look at the clubs around you who are tyring to get in the Premier League.

‘One of the criticisms which comes from managers is they’ve never taken a team up (to the Premier League).

‘One of the debates managers would throw back to them is we’ve never had an opportunity.

‘Unless we’re given an opportunity no one will ever know.’

Although making it clear where his ambitions lie, Cook explained he felt there was a finite window where he could wait for a Championship job to come up.

He added: ‘At the minute I’m trying to break back into that type of situation.

‘As time goes on I miss football every day so much.

‘I miss the players, the dressing room, the breakfast banter, the speaking about football and talking about the match. I just miss football.

‘I love football that much that if I don’t get a job that I deem I might get in a period of time, I’ll take a football job anywhere, because I just want to be a football manager again.’

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