Hartlepool given permission to speak with Barrow's Paul Cox over managerial vacancy

Hartlepool have been granted permission to speak to Barrow boss Paul Cox over their managerial vacancy, Sky sources understand.

Cox has emerged as favourite to take over from Dave Jones, who was sacked by the club with two games remaining in the season.

Defender Matthew Bates took over from Jones on an interim basis but he was unable to stop them being relegated to the National League in agonising fashion on the final day of the season.

Cox guided Mansfield Town to promotion back to the Football League in 2013 and also had a spell in charge of Torquay United before joining Barrow in November 2015.

The Bluebirds missed out on a play-off place last season, finishing in seventh place, some seven points adrift of Aldershot.

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