Barrow vs. Guiseley – Paul Cox returns to former club on the hunt for first win

By Matt Badcock
NEW GUISELEY manager Paul Cox returns to Barrow tonight – just 19 days after leaving.
Amid suggestions he’d grown tired of background politics, Cox chose to walk away from Holker Street on August 24 after five games of the new season.
But he didn’t have to wait long for a new job after Guiseley sacked their boss Adam Lockwood and Cox was appointed last Tuesday.
He took over with the team second from bottom and with just one win from eight games. In his first game in charge he secured a home point against Eastleigh with a 0-0 draw.
Cox has vowed to stamp an identity on the Lions and look to turn them around much like he did when he took over at Barrow in November 2015.
He left proud of his achievements which included an impressive 26-game unbeaten run last season as they finished in seventh place.
This evening Barrow welcome Guiseley in the National League with both sides looking to bank the three points.
On the prospect of facing his former club so soon into his new reign, Cox said: “It’s really strange how football does this!
“I’m very proud of what I achieved at Barrow. There’s a lot of fantastic people up there. Being totally honest, my rapport with the fans was amazing. That’s something that did play on my mind when it came to resigning.
“But it’s happened and, like I say, I’ve got a sense of pride at where I left the club. When I took over they were fifth from bottom and I think we changed the culture and mindset at the football club – and how its perceived now.
“I read the chairman’s statement and he said seventh wasn’t good enough now. So they’re a club that has aspirations to get promoted now, which is fabulous to know I’ve been a part of that.”
The Bluebirds haven’t appointed a permanent replacement yet with former Grimsby Town and Solihull Moors boss Micky Moore in caretaker charge.
In his three games they’ve drawn with Maidenhead, beaten Fylde and Boreham Wood before suffering late defeat against Tranmere Rovers last Saturday.
“I’m devastated,” Moore said after. “To come to a place like Tranmere Rovers and put on the performance we have and not get anything is really difficult to take.”