PAUL Cook missed Sligo’s pre-season friendly with Galway on Saturday after asking for permission to speak to Accrington Stanley – but no talks have yet been scheduled with the Reds.

Caretaker boss Leam Rich-ardson remains the frontrunner for the job after being told he will be handed the role on a full-time basis if he is able to build on last week’s win over Gillingham in his first game in charge.

The former Blackburn Rovers defender is expected to be given more time as caretaker following the postponement of Saturday’s trip to Crewe, with the Reds next in action at home to Oxford United at the weekend.

They then travel to Roth-erham United three days later before a home game against Plymouth Argyle.

But Stanley have also been assessing a back-up plan, requesting to speak to Cook – the ex-Burnley and Accrington midfielder currently in charge of Irish side Sligo..

Cook was always known to be keen on a return to English football and Sligo confirmed at the weekend that the 44-year-old wanted to speak to Stanley.

“Sligo Rovers can confirm that Paul Cook has asked for permission to speak to Accrington Stanley over their vacant manager position with a view to his long-held desire to one day return to England to be closer to his family,” a statement said.

“Accrington have been informed that Paul Cook is under contract at Sligo Rovers and we have no desire to see him leave the club.

“The management committee has been working with Paul in recent months to assemble an excellent squad of players and it is our intention that this should continue at this critical time in our pre-season.”

Cook returned home to his native Liverpool for the weekend, missing Sligo’s friendly against Galway, after it was decided that the current situation had made it difficult for him to be at the game.

It is understood, however, that no talks with Stanley have yet been planned, with Sligo’s management committee making discussions protracted.

The Reds would be required to agree compensation with Sligo should they eventually decide they want to appoint Cook, who still has a year left on his contract with the option for a further year.

Stanley, though, have said they would be prepared to pay compensation for the right man and Sligo were reported to have agreed a figure of around £30,000 with St Johnstone in October, before Cook turned down the job.

Stanley have also not yet ruled out looking at further options, should results dip under Richardson, and they have received numerous applications for the job.