Ipswich boss Paul Cook has been recruiting new staff for his backroom team in recent weeks, most notably adding Peter Reid to the line-up and the Tractor Boys boss has told Suffolk News that he isn't just bringing in people to 'agree with what he says.'

It's well known by now that the Ipswich boss invested heavily in his playing squad over the summer, in a bid to try and make the club promotion contenders this season. Despite  a rocky start and some worry building perhaps amongst Tractor Boys fans, the manager has now got the team playing well and winning games.

They were held to a 2-2 draw at the weekend but, before that tie, they had won two of their last three league fixtures before it. It's meant the side are now steadily climbing back up towards the right end of the table - and they'll want to keep that run going against Portsmouth in midweek.

Cook has also done some work in recruiting some staff to help him going forward in his side's bid to succeed. Most recently he has added the well-experienced Peter Reid to advise him as a consultant and the wealth of knowledge that the former player can bring could no doubt help the manager going forward.

The two have previously worked together at Wigan Athletic and will now link-up again at Portman Road - but the manager has been quick to claim that he isn't just adding staff to his team that will 'agree with what he says.' Speaking to the Suffolk News about his staff, he said: "For me I like to trust the people I work with, I trust their opinions, I don't have 'yes men' around me.

"I would never employ any single person to agree with what I say – it wouldn't be worth me having them in the room."

Cook then does believe that his current backroom staff - despite being relatively inexperienced in their roles - are not just there to shake their heads and nod in agreement with the former Latics boss. Instead, Cook clearly believes Gary Roberts, Francis Jeffers and now Peter Reid can all play their part in helping Ipswich get back up towards the play-off places.

The Verdict

Paul Cook has worked hard to bring in the type of player he wanted over summer and is now is working just as hard to compile a backroom team that can help him make important decisions. There is a lack of experience there and the addition of Peter Reid will be a boost due to the two having worked together before (and his multitude of experience).

The Tractor Boy's boss can do the business at this level, as he has done previously. If the club and the fans trust him in his decision making and signings both on-field and off-field, then it could pay dividends - and the club are already starting to creep their way back up the table.