He began his career at his hometown club Notts County, making his first-team debut against Manchester City on 25 April 1992, coming on as a substitute for Kevin Bartlett.

[2] Cox spent five years at Notts County, playing just over 40 matches, and also had a short loan spell with Hull City.

This season Mansfield also reached the 3rd round proper of The FA Cup, losing eventually to a controversial Luis Suarez goal which gave Liverpool a 2–1 win.

[5] After Mansfield beat Barrow 8–1 in February 2013, thus improving on their 7–0 win in the reverse fixture, the club's chairman gave Cox his Aston Martin car as a reward.

[10] Cox guided Barrow away from the Conference National relegation zone finishing a respectable 11th place in his first season in charge.

Eleven days after leaving Barrow, Cox was appointed manager of fellow National League club Guiseley.

[12] On 24 October 2019 Cox was appointed as the manager of National League North club Kettering Town, where he had previously made 125 appearances during his senior career between 1997 and 2001.

[15] Having been defeated in the 2022 play-off final, Cox was sacked by the club on 6 September 2022 after only three points from his side's first seven matches left them in 24th position.