FORMER Accrington Stanley player-coach Paul Cook has parted company with Conference club Southport.

Manager Cook left the bottom-of-the-table side by mutual consent after a run of three straight defeats over Christmas.

The former Burnley midfielder, 39, was appointed last summer after leaving Stanley to take his first job in management.

Southport took on full-time status at the same time and after being forced to build a squad from scratch, Cook led lead his side to just four league wins.