Q&A session with Paul Cook at the Bridge Inn, Chesterfield

Paul Cook was at the Bridge Inn (Hollis Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 7RE) on Thursday 9th April at 8 pm for a Question and Answer session.

Tickets were priced at £3 each and all of the proceeds to be donated to the Memorial Garden at the Proact Stadium. Here's the highlights of the evening.

Question: Why is Samy Morsy wearing the captains armband when Ian Evatt is on the pitch?

Evatt has had some hard times this season and sometimes it's hard to concentrate on both his own performance and the captains responsibility. Ian needed to find his form again and taking away the additional responsibility has helped with that. Samy wears his heart on his sleeve and the captaincy gives him that little bit more responsibility and helps him learn the importance of having our strongest players on the pitch.

Question: Who is your strongest player and who would your vote for Player of the Year?

I'd vote for Tendayi. He's grown this season and has developed a tremendous will to win. Roberts, Hird, Lee and Ryan are all quality players and you almost expect it from them but Tendayi Darikwa will be sat down soon to discuss a new deal.

Question: What's the situation with Jimmy Ryan?

You know as much as me, we are apart in terms of money. When we signed Jimmy he had no other clubs to go to, he's had one contract and as a consequence he's one of our lowest paid players, the only increase was a % increase following promotion.
We've tried our best to sign Jimmy, he's been offered a good deal but Jimmy wants a better deal. The biggest thing I must add is that Jimmy never leaves anything on the pitch and certainly doesn't look like he wants to play for anyone else. His contract runs to the end of the season and he would sign straight away if he got the money he requested..

Question: How are you looking to strengthen for next season?

I need to be careful what I talk about, I can't sit here saying stuff that would either compromise either me or the players or the club. Last summer we didn't strengthen too much, for various reason and another similar summer and it might start to cause us problems.

Question: What are your thoughts on Dan Gardner's progress and did you expect more from him?

Dan Gardner has never really had a run of game to establish himself due to niggling injuries. He has great ability and energy and with a run of two or three months you will see him progress and do well.

Question: Caolan Lavery, any designs on signing him?

No! Finances get silly, he plays for a Championship team, it's off the graph. We need to get players before they get good, Doyle being a prime example.

Question: Gary Roberts, why did he signed for us?

Gary Roberts was on a two year deal, on a decent amount of money at Swindon but they were looking to reduce costs. When I came Lewis Boa Morte was here and had 0 goals, 0 assists and wasn't playing for nothing. We need players who get goals, who get assists. Gary Roberts is our top paid player but took a massive cut when he signed but got a three year deal but he got us up to League One on his own. Gary Roberts was signed to be a club icon and the club sold that to him to convince him to sign.

Question: Will we be offering Gary Roberts another contract?

Him and Jimmy travel in the same car so I don't think so!! If we have aspirations to go where we want to go we need to spend more money.

Question: Do you think football is more about money that loyalty or passion?

No loyalty in football any more. Who was the last player to have a testimonial? They used to be common but not any more. Agents run football and it will only get worse. We had no choice than to sell Doyle. The agents have done the deals before the club out offers on the table. If a player wants to go, you can't stand in their way.

Question: Is there a pre season trip planned to Ireland?

I do think we'll be in Ireland this pre season.

Question: How committed are you to Chesterfield?

I'm not going to Wigan that's for sure..I'm jumping on the bus to Coventry!!!! I think if you preach loyalty and you don't show it yourself there's something wrong with you.

Question: If a player has been poor, do you tell them straight?

I'm learning.... I've clashed with players in the passed and have learned from that. Loyalty is everything and you have to practise what you preach. I've learned to be careful with what I say when. In the past I clashed with Terrel Forbes about training afternoons. Then with Richard Brindley and Armand about signing new deals but am learning when and what to say for the good of the club and the squad.

Question: Daniel Johnson, Surprised he's gone to Preston, could we have signed him?

I don't think we really could. I made a decision about 4 games before the end of his time with us and I thought he was too good to play, I didn't want to put him in the shop window for others to pinch, but it backfired. I don't think we'd ever have got him, possibly I could have managed it better, but it's so difficult to get those signings over the line. It's easy with hindsight to say I should have played him more, he's a top lad.

Question: Have we any signings in the pipeline and will we see many players leave?

We are not as active as we'd like to be but we need to find a happy medium. My job is to deliver success and it's frustrating when I can't get every player I want.

Question: You seem a little shackled, a little restricted and almost like you've resigned yourself that we won't do well in the play offs or in the Championship?

We haven't signed anyone, we haven't invested, if we go through this window and don't properly invest this same team will have gone through two years without proper strengthening. Our budget was set at the start of the season, the budget dictated that we lost Richards and didn't replace him. I don't want to criticise the club or myself. Lets move on.

You can read the full questions and answers on Bob's Board