Pompey: Paul Cook not concerned after missing out on transfer targets

Paul Cook dismissed any feeling of disappointment after missing out on his transfer deadline day targets.
Pompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe PeplerPompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe Pepler
Pompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues boss confirmed he had made several enquiries for players before yesterday’s 6pm deadline, with one believed to be former Pompey loanee striker Wes Thomas.

The Birmingham man instead opted to join Swindon Town with suggestions he was not prepared to drop down to League Two.

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But while Cook declined to reveal who he made approaches for, he insists Pompey will continue their pursuit of other targets when the emergency loan window opens in a week’s time.

Pompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe PeplerPompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe Pepler
Pompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe Pepler

Cook said: ‘I wasn’t disappointed – not at all.

‘That’s just the way it is.

‘My job is about working hard on trying to get good players in.

‘If you don’t get the right targets in, we work hard with the players we’ve got.

‘There were a few enquiries but we couldn’t get the right ones.

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‘We tried our best. The club worked really hard and we had full backing from everyone.

‘It’s unfortunate it wasn’t a good day for us.

‘But we will be back again when the loan window opens.’

Cook conducted a major overhaul of the squad during the summer and feels happy with his recruitment.

He said: ‘We got really good targets in over the summer and you can’t get everyone you always want.

‘We will keep being active and looking forward.

‘So it’s not about being disappointed or frustrated.

‘We’ve seen with Adam Barton and Kal Naismith coming back from injury that we haven’t touched the depth of our squad yet.

‘But we are always looking to improve and we will keep looking for quality players to come in and make us better.

‘It’s an ongoing process.’