Richardson leaves Accrington for Chesterfield

Accrington manager Leam Richardson has left the club to become Paul Cook's assistant at npower League Two counterparts Chesterfield. Cook made the same switch when he took the reins at the Proact Stadium last October, leaving his then number two Richardson to step up.

A strong end to the season saw Stanley escape relegation with a game to spare, but the 33-year-old is now reunited with Cook a day after assistant manager Tommy Wright and reserve-team coach Mark Crossley headed a list of four members of backroom staff let go by the Spireites.

An official statement confirmed the end of Richardson's near eight-year association with a club he represented 147 times as a player. Shortly afterwards, Chesterfield confirmed the news with a statement of their own and Cook lavished praise on Richardson's abilities.

"Having worked with him before, I'm delighted to have been able to bring in Leam," he said. "He has great knowledge of League Two as a player, assistant manager and manager and I'm sure he's going to be a great asset to our club."