PAUL Cook has expressed his desire to carry on the legacy left by John Coleman after he was yesterday appointed as the new manager of Accrington Stanley.

Cook has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract after leaving Irish side Sligo Rovers to return to the club where he worked as player-coach alongside Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell between 2003 and 2006.

Leam Richardson, who had been in contention for the job himself after impressing as caretaker, has been installed as Cook’s assistant manager.

Former Burnley midfielder Cook knows it will be no easy task stepping into the shoes of Coleman, who brought the club from the UniBond First Division to the verge of promotion to League One before leaving for Rochdale last month, but he is determined to help Stanley’s success story continue.

“I’m delighted to be here,” the 44-year-old said.

“John and Jimmy have left the club in a very healthy position and we just want to carry that forward now.

“They have set the bar very high. I’m not coming to a club where I have to bring success, they have had success and we have to try to carry that on as best we can by working hard and through togetherness.

“I had fantastic times here at Accrington, winning the Conference.

“It was a real wrench to leave Sligo but the opportunity to be with my family and to be a manager in the Football League was huge.

“My family have been over in England – I’ve got four children, my son is six and my daughter is 13 – and it’s been hard being away from them.”

Cook will officially start work tomorrow but will take a watching brief at tonight’s match at Rotherham, when Richardson will guide the team.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to see the lads and hopefully we can get a result, Cook said.

“I haven’t met the players yet but I’ve met the staff and that went very well.

“It’s a great opportunity for Leam to be assistant manager at 32 years of age and from speaking to him it’s clear how committed and enthusiastic he is.”

The main part of Stanley’s compensation package with Sligo will be friendlies in Ireland this year and next year, as well as a possible player link-up between the two clubs.

The Reds had thought the deal to bring Cook to the Crown Ground was virtually dead on Friday but talks were able to be revived with a man who came highly recommended by Coleman.

Stanley had initially wanted to give Richardson time to prove himself as caretaker, particularly after the 4-3 win over Gillingham in his first game in charge.

But the next two matches were postponed because of the weather and Stanley knew they had to make a quick decision if they wanted Cook, with the Irish season starting on March 2.

Reds chief executive Rob Heys said: “Leam was very good about it.

“Obviously he would have liked a go at it but he can gain experience under Paul and I’m sure he will go on to be a manager in the future – whether that’s here if Paul moves on one day, or elsewhere.

“When we spoke to Paul we were very impressed by what he had to say.

“He did very well at Sligo working with a limited budget, which is quite similar to what we have here. They punched about their weight really.

“He knows what sort of club he’s coming to and he has got very good contacts in the game too.

“We’re confident Paul will do a good job working alongside Leam.”