The 54-year-old openly stated his desire to remain in the second tier after leaving relegated Wigan in August.
But despite being linked with a string of vacancies and rejecting a six-month deal at Sheffield Wednesday, Cook has taken on the task of restoring the fortunes of the Tractor Boys.
“When I came out of Wigan, I probably thought I would be in work quicker than this,” admits the former Chesterfield and Portsmouth boss, who has signed a contract until 2023.
“And yes, I did want to work in the Championship. That’s the truth. But one or two of the offers I did get, the criteria weren’t what I wanted.
“To be perfectly honest, if you look at some of the clubs in the Championship now then - with the greatest of respect to those clubs and their supporters - what they’re doing is an absolute joke, isn’t it? Because they’re in a total mess.
Control
“So whether it’s Paul Cook or someone else in charge, they maybe need to have a look at what they’re doing because they’re taking good clubs down and that’s so wrong.
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