Lebanese businessman Sam Hammam assumed control of the club in 2000 and replaced Ayre with Bobby Gould, who had managed Hammam's previous club Wimbledon. Gould enjoyed a positive start, remaining unbeaten in his opening nine games, but was replaced by Alan Cork after suffering two consecutive defeats in October 2000. Cork won promotion to the Second Division in 2001 and made several high-profile signings that were financed by Hammam ahead of the following campaign, breaking the club's transfer record twice in three months. However, he resigned his position in February 2002 after coming under pressure due to indifferent form. Lennie Lawrence, who had been working as the club's director of football, took control of the first team following Cork's departure and led the side to two consecutive top six finishes. After suffering defeat in the play-offs in the first season, he won promotion via the 2003 Football League Second Division play-off Final in his second. Lawrence achieved a mid-table finish in his first season in the second tier but, after struggling against relegation in his second, he was replaced at the end of the 2004–05 season. Dave Jones was appointed as Lawrence's successor and spent six seasons in charge of the first team and led them to the 2008 FA Cup Final where they suffered defeat to Portsmouth. Jones left the club after losing in the Championship play-offs for the second consecutive season.