Takeover talk '˜not for me' - Wigan Athletic boss

Latics are in the process of changing ownership, with the Whelan family – who have owned the club since 1995 – having agreed a deal in principle with the Far East-based International Entertainment Corporation (IEC), subject to Hong Kong Stock Exchange approval and EFL consent.

It’s nine months now since that process began, although events off the field didn’t stop Cook leading Latics back into the Championship at the first attempt last term.

However, with the new campaign kicking-off in just over a fortnight – and more players leaving than arriving this summer – some fans have naturally started to speculate whether the ongoing takeover is hampering Cook’s efforts to bring in new blood.

But if that is indeed the case, it’s not something the boss wants to make an issue of.

“That’s not for me...it’s my job to come in every day and work,” Cook told the Wigan Post.

“I’d never get involved in that kind of stuff.

“One of the big things in football to be careful of is for managers not to be debating the goings on at the club.

“All you can do is work hard and get on with your job.

“People are always looking to highlight things for their own agenda.

“If there is a takeover going on – which there is at the moment – obviously there’ll be new people coming in. At the same time, there’s the Whelan family, who’ve done ridiculously well for this club.

“As manager, I’ll just keep doing my job the best I can, for as long as that situation goes on.”

Only one of the three summer signings, Leonardo Da Silva Lopes from Peterborough, has required a transfer fee.

Kal Naismith arrived from Portsmouth on a free transfer, while Christian Walton has agreed a second successive season-long loan from Premier League Brighton.