HE knows what makes Paul Cox tick, knows when he's happy and when to keep his own mouth shut.

New Barrow AFC assistant manager Micky Moore arrived at Holker Street in pre-season with a good knowledge of what he was letting himself in for as Cox's right-hand man.

The two worked together successfully at Mansfield Town, where the Stags won promotion from the National League to League Two under Cox's stewardship.

Their ships have sailed in different directions since then – Cox having a brief tenure at Torquay United before arriving at Barrow in November 2015, and Moore having spells out of the game, as well as working with Mansfield again, and at Grimsby Town under Marcus Bignot.

There was no opportunity for Moore and Cox to team up again until now – with Gary Simpson arriving as Cox's assistant last year and Moore in employment until earlier this year.

But it was not a hard decision to put the band back together, and the 44-year-old former Derby County and Swansea City player believes he and Cox make a good team.

“We work well together, we know each other's strengths and areas that we need to improve, we dovetail really well together,” said Moore. It was a no-brainer once the phone call came.

“I know what makes him tick, he knows what makes me tick. I know when he's happy and when he's moody, I know when to say things and when not to say things, and vice-versa.

“My job is to support and help in every aspect, not just in the good times but in the times when we're not winning games of football. My experience is as being a manager as well, so I know what he's going through, what he's thinking – we work well together.”

Moore has been taking his time to get to know the Barrow AFC set-up over the past month.

He was in charge of the team for the pre-season games against Crewe Alexandra and Lancaster City while Cox was on scouting missions, and has spent time speaking with match-day employees and behind-the-scenes staff to get a feel of the place.

He has been pleased with what he has seen, and said: “I'm trying to get to know everyone around the football club, trying to get to know all the players.

“The welcome I have had has been very good within the football club – really good, excellent, really positive. They are good people.

“The players and the supporters are very important to a football club, but I look at the staff – the volunteers who come in on match-days – to me, they are equally, if not more important. I'm trying to get to know them – I will get to know the players, the supporters will get to know me, but I like to look at the other people who contribute to the football club, what they do and what their roles are. I've been very impressed.”