Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri has criticised claims Paul Cook was offered the Owls job and calls the former Wigan Athletic boss unprofessional, Yorkshire Post report.
The Owls are still on the lookout for a new manager after sacking Tony Pulis last month.
Cook emerged as a contender and appeared a popular choice for some Wednesday supporters.
Speaking to Talksport’s EFL show this month, Cook claimed he applied for the Owls job three months ago and had held talks over the position this time around.
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The Athletic this past week went further and said Cook turned down a deal to manage Wednesday until the end of the current season as he wanted a long-term project.
Chansiri, however, has refuted those claims while criticising Cook.
“I have never talked with Paul Cook. I think he is a good coach. My colleagues have told me that Paul Cook has been interviewed and was offered a short term contract. It is not true. I think the way he has done things is unprofessional. How can I trust and believe someone who is unprofessional and then call them to interview? If you want me to interview, you can do it the correct way but that does not mean to say it outside,” Chansiri explained.
Cook has plenty of experience having enjoyed promotion to the Championship with Wigan Athletic, before keeping the Latics up in the 2018/19 campaign.
Wigan would have finished 13th last season had it not been for a late 12-point penalty, resulting in the Lancashire club’s relegation and Cook’s subsequent resignation from the DW Stadium.
Wednesday find themselves in danger of relegation to League One this term. The Owls are second bottom in the table, the joint-lowest scorers and six points from safety.
But Chansiri has been reluctant to rush into a new managerial decision after Pulis lasted just 45 days in charge. The delay has affected their January transfer window plans.
Cook would surely be a top choice for the job. However, Chansiri may have reservations over another British boss after the experiences of Steve Bruce, Garry Monk and Pulis.
Caretaker boss Neil Thompson looks set to continue in charge for the short-term, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see the former U23 boss now remain until the end of the season.
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