DEPARTED Barrow AFC striker Andy Cook has thanked the club and its fans for their support over the past two seasons after he joined National League rivals Tranmere Rovers.
Cook was out of contract at the end of last season and said he wanted a move into the Football League.
Barrow even said the 24-year-old had told them he would not join another National League side if his bid for a step up the divisions did not come off, however that is exactly what has happened.
It is believed there had been no concrete interest in his signature from Football League clubs, with Carlisle put off by the possibility of his wages being too high and Hartlepool – the other side linked with a bid – never going further than expressing a vague interest.
Tranmere announced on Tuesday night that Cook, who scored 26 goals in all competitions for AFC last season, had signed a two-year contract at Prenton Park.
Writing on Twitter, Cook said: “Just wanna thank everyone at Barrow and the fans for the past 2 seasons! I loved every minute of it and made some great memories!”
In a club statement, Rovers boss Gary Brabin 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."
Just wanna thank everyone at barrow and the fans for the past 2 seasons! I loved every minute of it and made some great memories!
— Andrew Cook (@andy9cook) May 24, 2016
Since Cook told Barrow of his intentions to seek a move to the Football League, manager Paul Cox has brought in strikers Ross Hannah – from Chester – and Richie Bennett – from Northwich Victoria.
Both have goal-scoring pedigree, but Cox had always said he saw them as complementing Cook, who previously played alongside Hannah at Grimsby Town.
It had been thought the signings could sway the Northeasterner towards a new deal at Holker Street, seeing the quality of the players being brought in, but in what is sure to be a blow to Cox, he has chosen to join one of the club’s National League rivals.
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