ACCRINGTON Stanley assistant manager Jimmy Bell hopes a long-standing friendship with Paul Cook can be repaired, after what he feels was a misunderstanding between the Portsmouth boss and Reds manager John Coleman.

Cook was angered that former Pompey player Rommy Boco had been named on the bench.

Coleman had previously agreed not to involve the Benin international in the fixture when the clubs were initially talking about a loan deal for the versatile midfielder.

But following Boco’s release from Fratton Park and subsequent permanent move to the Wham Stadium, Coleman believed all previous arrangements were null and void.

However, former Stanley player and manager Cook and Coleman exchanged words before kick-off after the teams were announced, with Boco named on the bench for Stanley.

Cook refused to shake hands with Coleman and Bell, both before and after the game, and Bell said: “Our door was open to him. He was very hospitable when they beat us down there in the FA Cup.

“They played very well here - not a problem with the team and how they performed.

“I am just personally very saddened that he never shook my hand before the game or after the game and never came in (to the manager’s office) for a drink.

“It’s not nice and it left a bit of a sour taste, especially after we took a beating off them.

“That (the fall-out) was secondary, but thinking about it now I’m a little bit annoyed because I was oblivious to the agreement.

“We go back a long, long way and for a very old friend of mine not to shake my hand was very disrespectful to tell you the truth.

“Hopefully it’s just a misunderstanding.”

Bell added: “He (Boco) was meant to be involved.

“It was something that I was unaware of that an agreement between John and Paul Cook that if we took Rommy Boco on loan that he could not play in the game.

“This is where the wires have been crossed.

“Paul Cook asked us if we would take him on loan and a figure was mentioned and we said we couldn’t afford that, and that was the end of it.

“Then John received a phone call saying Rommy Boco had been released and to do with him whatever we wanted. So John got in touch with Rommy, he signed for us on a deal that fitted into our budget and John obviously thought that was that.

“Paul thought it was still the original arrangement. That’s where the wires were crossed.

“Our door was open to him before and after the game and he chose not to come in."