Career
In an eleven year career as a player, Cox played in the Football League with his hometown club N ottinghamshire County before playing in non-league football with several clubs, most notably Kettering Town. Cox moved into coaching at in 2003, becoming the manager in 2005. As a player, Cox was a defender who could play as right-back or as a central defender.
He began his career at his hometown club N ottinghamshire County, making his first-team debut against Manchester City on 25 April 1992, coming on as a substitute for Kevin Bartlett.
Cox spent five years at N ottinghamshire County, playing just over 40 matches, and also had a short loan spell with Hull City. At the end of the 1994-1995 season, Cox was released by N ottinghamshire County, and he subsequently dropped down into non-league football, where he most notably spent five seasons with Kettering Town, and also had spells at Halifax Town and Hucknall Town.
In 2003, Cox began his coaching career when he became assistant manager at of the Northern Premier League. In October 2006, Cox became manager of the club, and steered the club away from the Northern Premier League Division One relegation zone in his first season.
In 2009-2010, Cox led Eastwood to an 11th-place finish in their debut season in the Conference North, and in 2010-2011, sparked by a 19-match unbeaten run, Eastwood finished in 4th place.
However, the club was not allowed to compete in the promotion play-offs because their Coronation Park ground did not have the proper grade to be eligible for promotion to the Conference Premier. On 5 May 2011, Cox resigned as manager of. On 19 May 2011, Cox was officially was unveiled as the new manager of in the Conference Premier.
On 12 April 2012, Paul Cox confirmed a new deal with Mansfield chairman John Radford to keep him at the club for another two seasons.
On 17 June 2015 Cox was confirmed as the new manager of National League team Torquay United. He resigned after only 3 months in charge, later revealing that the club had been unable to pay him.
On 23 November 2015, Cox was unveiled as the new manager of National League side Barrow.