FORMER Barrow AFC boss Paul Cox has been sacked by the Bluebirds' National League rivals Guiseley after only five months in charge.

Cox, who departed Holker Street in August, only five games into the new season, has been unable to turnaround the fortunes of the Nethermoor club, who are firmly rooted to the bottom of the table.

As well as Cox, assistant Adam Murray and Ben Marvin, who worked as part of his team at Barrow, have also been relieved of their duties, with experienced Republic of Ireland defender Sean St Ledger taking over on an interim basis.

A brief statement from the West Yorkshire club said: “Guiseley Football Club can confirm that Paul Cox, Adam Murray and Ben Marvin have left the football club with immediate effect.

“Sean St Ledger will oversee training until a suitable replacement is found.

"The club will not make any further comment at this stage.”

Cox, who was in charge of Barrow for just shy of two years between 2015 and 2017, oversaw a move from part-time to full-time football at Nethermoor during his time in charge, with numerous changes in player personnel as well.

But in 24 league matches since he took over less than a month after his AFC exit, Cox had overseen only three wins at Guiseley, with eight draws and 13 losses thrown in for a total of 17 points from 72 on offer. Their last victory came at Chester on Boxing Day.

That record has left the Lions 10 points adrift of safety, with Tuesday's 1-0 home defeat by Gateshead – a sixth successive loss – proving to be the final nail in his coffin.

Barrow have had three managers since Cox left Holker Street, with his former assistant Micky Moore having a torrid, short, reign, and caretaker Neill Hornby also taking charge before current boss Ady Pennock arrived at the end of October.

AFC are due to travel to Guiseley, for whom Cox signed both Alex-Ray Harvey and Liam Hughes from Barrow during his brief tenure, on Tuesday, February 27, the originally-scheduled fixture, on January 20, having been postponed because of a frozen pitch.