Mansfield Town boss Graham Coughlan was disappointed to lose Andy Cook to Tranmere Rovers

“The Andy Cook one was a tough one – I have to be honest,” he said. “It's always difficult when you lose players or players want to move on.

“Those three players who went out were not playing and wanted to play first team football. All three decided they wanted to move on and chance their arm elsewhere.”

He added: “Cooky was one I have been in consultation with from the day I came in.

“Maybe the way we play, the high-pressing, might have caused him a bit of an issue.

“But he has been really professional in everything he's said to me and the way he has spoken to me. So I have a lot of time and respect for the lads

“It's never nice to let lads go or when they come to you to ask to move on. You always question yourself and – what I am doing wrong? Why do players want to leave?

“But that is football and I wasn't going to hold people against their will. That would be wrong. I want players here who want to play for the badge.”

Assistant boss Joe Dunne agreed, saying: “Cooky has scored a couple of goals when coming on recently with golden one-touches.

“But when you look at the striker department we do have four there at the moment.

“Any player will tell you if you are wanting and needing to play, when the window comes round it possibly presents you an opportunity to get that game time. It works both ways for player and club.

“He has moved up a league also. Cooky is a character – of course he is. But we feel we have strikers who can give us what we need.”

He continued: “Obviously Nicky Maynard is scoring goals and Danny Rose is giving us a great work rate. Both are in form in terms of performance and goals.

“We've also got young Jimmy, though we've got to make sure we get the balance right with his pathway.

“CJ can play up front as well as out on the wing. That gives us the opportunity to push him up the top end of the pitch when others tire.

“Cooky will of course add value to Tranmere's squad. We had to balance up between what's right for the player and for the club.”

Cook arrived at Mansfield as a prolific goalscorer but has found first team starts hard to come by, not helped by an early injury.

He was one of three players that went out on January transfer deadline day last Friday, heading back to a club where he is already a legend from his last spell there.

Tranmere were unable to field Cook in their 2-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers but started Tuesday night’s 3-0 3-0 home defeat by play-off chasing Doncaster Rovers.