Today a six figure compensation package was paid to Accrington Stanley for the services of Paul Cook. He has agreed a two-and-half-year contract with the Spireites.

Speaking on the Club Website "I am delighted to be the new Chesterfield manager, " said Cook. "It's a fantastic club with a great infrastructure and I'm really looking forward to the new challenge."  

Also from the Club Website chief executive Chris Turner said: "Paul did a fantastic job in Ireland and has done well with a very small budget at Accrington. He's very hungry to succeed and hopefully the change of direction will bring success to the club."  

Cook became manager of Sligo Rovers on 27th of April 2007. He is someone who stands by his principles and is proud of where he came from. At the press conference he stated that he was from Liverpool and that he will not have anything to do with any journalist from the Irish Sun, (due to the lies printed about Liverpool supporters during the Hillsborough disaster).

It shows that he someone that's not afraid to speak his mind, and stand up for what he believes in.

He immediately got the team playing an attractive brand of passing football. In his first season in charge he guided them to a credible sixth place in the league. In his second season he guided them to fourth in the League and a place in the Uefa Cup. This was a big achievement for the club, it was the first since 1996 that they had been in Europe.

In his third season they were one of the favourites to be relegated, due to severe financial constraints, however he guided them to sixth place. They also reached the FAI Cup final, losing to 2-1 to Sporting Fingal.

In his fourth season, which was arguably the greatest in the clubs history, they not only lifted FAI Cup, they also won the League Cup. In 2011 they retained the FAI Cup and they finished 2nd in the league with a club record number of points and goals scored. He then left to manage Accrington Stanley, the last Club he played for.   Dave Allen and the Board have put their money on the table. They have gone out and got an experienced manager that knows how to win things and is hungry for success. So lets  get behind Paul Cook and the Club on Saturday and cheer them on to victory against Barnet.

I would like to thank Tommy Wright and Mark Crossley for putting the club in to a respectable position in the League, In what was difficult circumstances and I am glad they are staying on as coaches.