BARROW AFC manager Paul Cox will waste no time in his search for a replacement for Tranmere-bound striker Andy Cook.

Cox wished the fans’ favourite a fond farewell and then turned his attention to the task of filling the gap left by the departure of the 24-year-old goalscorer to their National League rivals.

“It is one of those things that happen,” he said of Cook’s departure from Holker Street, which came to light on Tuesday night.

“All we can do is wish him all the best. We have to move on. I have been in the game long enough to expect the unexpected so we have not been putting all our eggs in one basket.”

Cox, who has already signed strikers Ross Hanhah from Chester and Richie Bennett from Northwich Vics, will now extend his search in an effort to add to the Bluebirds’ attacking force.

The departure of Cook means that there is an extra vacancy up front which Cox plans to fill.

The Barrow boss added: “We were always planning to have three or four strikers with different attributes and if we can manage that then it will be all well and good.”

In addition to the search to complete his strike force, Cox is also involved in what he describes as “his busiest time.”

Negotiations are on-going with other players and he expects to name three or four signings – including new faces – by the end of the week. Cook, whose contract with the club expired at the end of the season, was expected to stay at Holker Street if he failed to find a Football League club, but apart from a show of interest from Carlisle and Hartlepool nothing happened once the early inquiries cooled.

His departure will come as a disappointment to Holker Street regulars after he had told the club he would not leave unless it was to a league club.

But after completing the move to Prenton Park, Cook, who scored 26 goals in all competitions last season, thanked the Barrow fans for their support over the past two years.

Using his twitter account he said: “Just wanna thank everyone at Barrow and the fans for the past two years. I loved every minute and made some great memories.”

Cook, who has signed a two-year contract, has been a leading target for Tranmere boss Gary Brabin in his bid to improve Rovers’ as an attacking force.

He said: “I am delighted to be able to bring Andy Cook to the club. He is a hard-working player who has consistently been scoring 20-plus goals per season, which made him one of my top priority targets.

“We know that we need to improve our performance in front of goal, and I am sure that Andy will play a big role in helping us to achieve that.”