Sligo Rovers Football Club have confirmed that Paul Cook has sought permission to speak to League Two side Accrington Stanley. However it would seem the Bit 'o' Red won't lose their man without a fight and have stated that they have no desire to see the Liverpudlian leave the club and have informed Stanley that Cook is under contract.

Despite this, the statement does not indicate whether permission to speak to the club was granted or denied. The issue of compensation may more than likely be put on the table ahead of any talks taking place.

Earlier this week Cook's odds were slashed to 1/4 on Skybet prompting rumour that Cook was set to leave the club for a move across the water

Cook has been at the helm in the Showgrounds since 2007, and has guided the club to two FAI Cups and one League Cup. The Liverpudlian is no stranger to rumours of departure however, turning down jobs in both Derry and St. Johnstone in recent months.

Stanley are currently lurking just outside the playoff positions in League Two and if Cook takes the job he will have big boots to fill. Accrington have been taken from obscurity in the non-league English football pyramid to where they currently lie by their former manager John Coleman, who spent over 14 years at the club before joining Rochdale on 24th January.

If Cook joins Stanley, he will be linking up with an ex-player of his, Padraig Amond, who is currently at the club on loan from Pacos de Ferreira.

The statement in full reads:

"Sligo Rovers can confirm that Paul Cook has asked for permission to speak to Accrington Stanley over their vacant manager position with a view to his long-held desire to one day return to England to be closer to his family."

"Accrington have been informed that Paul Cook is under contract at Sligo Rovers and we have no desire to see him leave the club."

"The Management Committee has been working with Paul in recent months to assemble an excellent squad of players and it is our intention that this should continue at this critical time in our pre-season."