Paul Cook keen on Accrington job

05 February 2012 15:50
Former Claret Paul Cook could soon be back in England as the new manager of Accrington Stanley after asking his current club Sligo Rovers for permission to speak to the League One club.

Cook left Turf Moor at the end of the 2002/03 season following just over four years with the Clarets and he signed for Accrington as a player during their non-league days and becoming a coach with them on their promotion to League Two.

He's since managed Southport and Sligo Rovers but looked to be on his way out of the Airtricity League club last October when he asked them for permission to speak to St. Johnstone after their manager Derek McInnes left for Bristol City.

Sligo gave him that permission and began to negotiate a package with St. Johnstone, but Cook decide to stay in Ireland after speaking to the SPL club.

However, Sligo have confirmed today that Cook has again asked for their permission to speak to another club and that club is Accrington, and it is due to his long held desire to one day return to England to be closer to his family.

Sligo have informed Accrington that Cook is under contract and they have no desire to see him leave the club. They say they have been working with Paul in recent months to assemble an excellent squad and it is their intention that this should continue at this critical time in their pre-season.

Meanwhile at Accrington, they are talking to other candidates, of which they hope Cook will be one, but are ready to give current caretaker boss Leam Richardson more time to stake a claim for the job full time. They have already told him that, should he continue to impress as caretaker, that the job will be his.

Source: FOOTYMAD