DARREN Edmondson’s fate was effectively sealed following Barrow’s 3-1 home defeat by Grimsby Town on November 10.

The Bluebirds’ US-based owner, Paul Casson, took in the game and it was after that loss that he began the search for AFC’s new boss.

He quickly identified Paul Cox as a leading candidate to replace Edmondson in the Holker Street hot-seat.

He went after his number one target, and a deal will be agreed with the man who led Mansfield Town to the Conference Premier title in 2013.

Casson had previously given Edmondson a month to save his job, and that deadline was set to expire on Saturday.

But Edmondson departed AFC by mutual consent yesterday.

Before the Grimsby game, Casson has not entered into serious talks with any potential managerial candidate.

“Prior to the Grimsby game I hadn’t even thought about it,” insists Casson.

“I hadn’t looked at another manager, I hadn’t even contemplated it.

“And as of the Grimsby game I literally had nobody on my plate – the field was still wide open for him (Edmondson) to keep his job.

“I was obviously disappointed by the Grimsby game for a number of reasons, and so on the Wednesday morning we started looking.

“We very quickly came to the realisation that Paul Cox was available and got in touch with him immediately.

“We arranged to meet the very next day (the Thursday after the Grimsby game) in Manchester. It was the first time we’d met, we talked for two hours.

“And at the end of that, we decided that he was the person that we wanted.”

Barrow had also looked at a list of around 20 to 30 ‘available’ managers, while it is understood a few bosses contacted the club to express their interest in taking the role.

During the search, Casson spoke to one other potential candidate who has not been identified.

Casson is grateful to Edmondson for the platform he has created in stabilising the club, following his December 2013 appointment, and then for leading Barrow to Conference North title success last season.

But in the wake of Barrow’s stuttering 2015/16 National League campaign, he believes it is time for Edmondson ‘to pass the baton on’ and for the club to go forward.

In explaining his reasons for Edmondson’s exit – by mutual consent – Casson pointed to the club’s inconsistency this term and to the departed boss not getting the best out of some of his summer signings.

He was also been left disappointed by AFC’s performances against fellow newly-promoted and part-time sides – including Fylde who dumped Barrow out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory last month.

That proved to be a ‘pivotal event’ with Casson then setting his one-month deadline. Casson has also had to wrestle with the issue of whether he wanted to trust Edmondson with the club’s January transfer fund.

Barrow sit 16th in the National League table and 10 points adrift of the final play-off spot following Saturday’s 3-1 reverse at Dover.

When Casson was once again asked if Edmondson deserved more time to prove himself in light of his previous achievements, he said: “It’s a good question, I guess it’s an indication of how patient I am or impatient I am.

“So you can blame me for that one.

“I don’t think the season is a write-off but we have the January transfer window coming up and we definitely have to start building for next year and so the question is: Who do I want in charge of that particular building process?

“Somebody who is clearly still learning and who maybe will be very good at it in the years to come or somebody who perhaps has a proven record to get us to the place we want to go.”