The ex-Portsmouth boss who Hibernian's Marc McNulty feels would be perfect for the Sunderland job

Former Pompey boss Paul Cook would be the perfect manager to steer Sunderland back to the Championship.
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That’s the verdict of Marc McNulty, who holds his former Fratton Park boss in the highest regard.

McNulty played under Cook during his loan from Sheffield United during the 2015-16 campaign, which culminated in Blues suffering League Two play-off semi-final heartbreak against Plymouth.

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The following season, the Liverpudlian not only guided Pompey to promotion, but to claim the fourth-tier crown on the final day following a 6-1 routing of Cheltenham.

Cook would make a shock departure just 25 days later, though, to take charge of Wigan.

He’s enjoyed success at the DW Stadium, claiming the League One crown in 2018 and preserving their Championship status since.

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That would have seen him battling Pompey for promotion again, although Phil Parkinson would take charge of the Stadium of Light hot seat.

Former Pompey boss Paul Cook.Former Pompey boss Paul Cook.
Former Pompey boss Paul Cook.

McNulty spent the first half of this term on loan at the Black Cats from Reading, before cutting his spell short in January and subsequently joined Hibernian.

The Blues and Sunderland have again been battling for a return to the Championship this term, having both suffered play-off misery last campaign.

As things stand, the Wearsiders face the prospect of a third season in League One.

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They sit in seventh, one point and three places adrift of Pompey.

Paul Cook has a joke with Marc McNulty during his time at Pompey. Picture: Joe PeplePaul Cook has a joke with Marc McNulty during his time at Pompey. Picture: Joe Peple
Paul Cook has a joke with Marc McNulty during his time at Pompey. Picture: Joe Peple

And should Sunderland fail to break free of their third-tier shackles, McNulty reckons they should turn to Cook.

Speaking to the What The Falk Podcast, the Scot said: ‘I've seen his name being touted around Sunderland quite a lot.

‘I'm not one to say that a manager can guarantee promotion, but if there’s ever a manager who can take a team up – especially a club the size of Sunderland – it would be Paul Cook.

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‘He was brilliant, I absolutely loved him. He’s a great guy, good training (sessions), he had a good authority about him because the boys respected him and he was good with the fans.

‘He interacted with the fans and had a bit of everything.

‘His teams always play football. Even when he was at Chesterfield and I was at Sheffield United, his team would pass the ball all day.

‘I think a club like Sunderland should be playing nice, expansive football and there’s no better man for the job than him.’

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