PAUL Casson has described his dismissal of Darren Edmondson as Barrow AFC manager midway through the season as one of his ‘hardest decisions’.

But the Bluebirds owner is positive it was the right one to bring in Paul Cox after a second half of the campaign which lifted the team into the top half of the National League.

Speaking as Barrow ended their 2015/16 campaign with victory against Wrexham – making it just one defeat in their final 14 fixtures – Casson reflected on what had happened back in November.

“It’s always the hardest decision to tell people they don’t have a job any more,” he said. “That’s why I don’t think I could ever be a manager, because come Monday morning Paul has probably got to tell however many players that he chooses that they don’t have a job any more at this football club. To do that, is one of the most difficult things there is.

“Edmo had just got us promoted. It wasn’t like he had done a terrible job, but at the time if I hadn’t made the move I felt we might have been in a relegation fight.

“That was something I didn’t want to deal with.”

He added: “It was absolutely the right decision. Managers like Paul Cox aren’t available for very long. You only have a very narrow window where you can actually go get them.

“The fact that he was available at the time – you just have to make that move when you need to.”

The success Barrow have had since Cox arrived has led to speculation linking him with jobs elsewhere.

But the AFC owner is determined he will be in charge of the Bluebirds next season, despite the likes of Notts County and Stevenage reported to be interested.

With a smile on his face, Casson added: “All I can tell people is that whoever is interested in signing him better bring a load of money, because there is a fairly substantial buy-out clause in his contract!”