Stanley chairman Ilyas Khan said Paul Cook’s ambitious qualities made him the man for the Crown Ground role.

The chairman admitted he was shocked when John Coleman and Jimmy Bell left after 13 years in January and the plan was to have Leam Richardson as the interim manager until the end of the season.

But once then Sligo boss Cook was on their radar a quick decision had to be made with the Irish season starting in March.

"I was disappointed and shocked when John and Jimmy decided to move on as I did think they would be with us for a while longer so I was unprepared to be looking for a manager," said the chairman.

"The following week after their departure we were inundated with interest from quality candidates.

"Our intention though as directors was that we were going to stick with Leam, Bryan Hughes and Phil Hackney until the end of the season.

"But then events overtook us due to the Irish season starting in March. There was never a shortlist as Paul’s obvious and natural candidacy soon became apparent."

Cook signed a two-and-half year deal and it pleases Ilyas that his new manager and assistant Richardson will be working together,

"If Paul had not been in the mix, I don’t think we would have made a decision for a while.

"But Paul had a season that was just about to start and we were driven by the fact there was a timetable on the other side. They wanted a quick decision.

"Were it not for that factor, Leam would have had a good run but Leam’s chances are still very good in terms of his longevity. The fact he is going to be working with Paul makes that an easy choice."

He continued: "Paul knows what the club is about and I have spent a bit of time with him.

"He identified with the town having played here and he has also played at Burnley and on top of that he understood how ambitious we are.

"We would like do well and survive here initially but we want to build on that and he shares our aspirations.

"The foundation has been laid on the back of John and Jimmy and I don’t think anyone in the history of the club has done more than John Coleman.

"I include in that legends like Walter Galbraith who in their own way were magnificent but John really was a foundation stone."

After many years of upheavals off the field, including a winding up order where Khan helped to pay off a £306,000 tax bill, the chairman admitted he is happy with the stage the club is at.

"I think we are in a wonderful postion and I pinch myself every morning," he said.

"We are financially stable, we are stable now as a management team, we have an ethos which embraces the community and we work as a team and these are the things that matter.

"On the pitch, as it has done with John and Jimmy and now Paul and Leam, that will take care of itself."

Khan, fellow director Peter Marsden and chief executive Rob Heys have had a tough few weeks with them going through the new manager process for the first time.

"I have learnt a lot," said the chairman. "We have never done this before. The last person to appoint a new manager at Accrington was Eric Whalley 13 years ago so it’s been a learning curve.

"But it has been interesting. Paul’s job at Sligo was impressive, he had done well in the league and the cups and getting them into Europe is the stuff of legends.

"We wanted someone who knew what the job entailed, who knew what management was and what the challenges were and Paul has had five years in that position.

"Both Paul and Leam are straightforward, hard as nails but they are courteous and respectful at the same time."

He hopes Cook and Richardson are here to stay – but he won’t stand in their way if they are a success like Coleman and Bell.

"It would be wonderful if Paul and Leam stayed for as long as John and Jimmy.

"But at the same time at this club we nurture talent and if a Premiership or Championship club came in for Paul and Leam then we would be equally pleased."