BARROW AFC chairman Paul Hornby revealed that the club were prepared to dela with Pete Wild’s exit even if the way it happened was a surprise.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria, he said: “We knew where we were going with it (replacing Wild). It’s ironic, because we always envisaged a day when someone would come and take Pete.

“And with that in mind Iain Wood (Barrow AFC sporting director) always had a database of about a dozen candidates and we always updated that constantly.

“And it was on style of play, expected goals for, expected goals against, average possession.

“And he kept in touch with a lot of them, even just natural chats if we were phoning about a player or an agent or something like that.

“So, when it came to that we needed a new manager, we obviously went to that database.

“I think one of the things that was key, was that we had to be quick.

“We couldn’t have anyone where it might be a protracted negotiations to get them out, but the fact that Stephen (Clemence) was available there were probably four names we looked at.

“And Stephen just ticked all the boxes.

“It’s always sometimes a game of poker when you take on a new manager or head coach, but Stephen nailed his colours to the mast.

“He wanted the job, and he was on his holidays and was talking to us on his holidays and he only flew back the night before and then was straight up here.”