GUISELEY chairman James Ferguson is delighted that new manager Paul Cox shares his vision to move the National League club to the next level.

The 45-year-old former Barrow, Tor-quay, Mansfield and Eastwood boss was appointed on Monday after last week’s sacking of Adam Lockwood and assistant Dave Penney, who saved the club from relegation on the final day of last season.

Ferguson said: “When I spoke to Paul, it was as if I had put my words in his mouth. He shares our ambition and goals, which includes going full-time at some point.

“It was clear after studying Paul’s impressive CV and talking to him there was a clear vision for progressing the club.”

Ferguson, who joined Cox for a meeting with the club’s players at their Crofton training base on Tuesday, also revealed the reasons for sacking Lockwood and Penney.

“The board had extended the budget in the summer to avoid a repeat of the previous two seasons,” he said.

“Our ambition is to lose the tag as a small village club and the start of the season didn’t match our expectations.”

Ferguson hinted that funds will be made available if Cox needs to bring in new players.

He said: “Budgets are there to be adhered to but when the circumstances change, you have to adapt and we will look to support the manager.”

Cox will lead the team for the first time at home to Eastleigh on Saturday before a return to his old club Barrow on Tuesday.

The Lions are currently second-bottom in the National League with five points from eight games.

He admitted that it was the board’s ambition to progress the club that made up his mind to take the job.

He said: “Talking to Steve Parkin and James Ferguson, I could see their desire to take the club forward and that sold the job to me.”