Sligo battle to keep Cook
THE Sligo Rovers board of management will meet today to discuss the future of manager Paul Cook, who is moving closer to a return to England.
The 44-year-old is in Liverpool after asking for permission to speak to League One club Accrington Stanley.
Negotiations over compensation remain ongoing, with the Bit O’Red holding out for a better deal than what the Lancashire club have offered.
Cook remains the bookies’ favourite for the job, but some reports in Lancashire suggest the Accrington board are prepared to give caretaker boss Leam Richardson more time to prove himself.
The speculation couldn’t come at a worse time for Sligo, who are preparing for the 2012 season after signing a host of new players.
Sligo, winners of the FAI Cup in the past two seasons, are seen as the main challengers to Shamrock Rovers ahead of the new season, but they may have to take on that challenge with a new manager as Cook is keen to return to the club where he finished his career and took up coaching.
