He's here

[RedWeb]

Sounds to me like he was persuaded rather than wanted / applied for the job.

Doubt it was Mark's life long ambition to manage at Holker St (as it wasn't Evatt's, Dunn's, Kelly's or Jolley's). The club would need to sell the job to candidates at Cooper's level. They obviously did a good job.

[Main Stand SeasonTct]

Evatt and Jolley both applied Dunn offered his services Cooper was persuaded

[RedWeb]

Evatt and Jolley both applied Dunn offered his services Cooper was persuaded

For me Cooper is a different level of candidate. Evatt and Dunn were basically rookies looking for their first real full-time position (wasn't it Dunn's agent who put him forward?). Jolley was a gobshite living off a few months at Grimsby. Sometimes you need to headhunt/persuade the right person if you want the best outcome i.e. Cooper applied but wanted the full picture, wanted/needed the club to share their vision/ambitions.

To confirm, Cooper clearly did apply. Listen to the first 20 seconds of this!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09jz0xh

[Steeley]

Time will obviously tell but this appointment is in a different world to Dunn/Jolley.
Also the first 'proper' manager we've appointed for years who wasn't a rookie or assistant. Obvs Evatt was a huge success but the rest not so much.

[Moribund]

PH on RC said he was one of the first to apply for our vacant post.......

He did, and Mark Cooper said that the job was "never on my radar" until Hornby called him out of the blue and made it clear he was the man we wanted.

Both those statements can't be true.

Of course they can.

[Suffolk Blue]

Difficult though it might be, we need to put aside previous impressions of Mark Cooper and start this phase with a positive mindset. On paper he looks a better prospect than any of the last three managers. Indeed you might suggest that on paper Cooper/Dryden looks as good a managerial team as we have ever appointed (i.e at the time at which we appointed our managers).

None of this guarantees anything. Despite gut feelings you really cant tell whether what you've got is a gem or a dud. A pairing like this however does not usually turn out to be a complete dud. Every manager starts with a clean sheet as far as I'm concerned.

So welcome Mark. Do your stuff. And if you do, nobody will mind if you ruffle a few opposition feathers whilst you're doing it.

[Pedro]

Last season was a baptism of fire.
Football is a funny game and who knows,we will start getting a feel once we see players coming.in.

Mark Cooper has alot of experience and so does his assistant.
The minimum I am expecting is mid table and the best promotion and a good cup run to give the club cash.

Priority is two decent midfield players and another forward to play with Quigs.
I really do not think people realise how lucky we have had Quigley to lead the line without injuries.
If MC can convince a couple of players to come I can see Quigs getting 30 goals next season.

[Walneywanderer1979]

Good luck to Mr Cooper let's get behind him

[Barrowabc]

I think he’ll do what evo did and take us to the next level