AFC Telford boss made call to sell Sean Cooke
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson today admitted it was his decision to place Sean Cooke on the transfer list rather than the player.
The Bucks winger was put up for sale last week and did not travel with the squad to Saturday's 1-0 Skrill Conference North victory at Workington.
The wide man – son of former Shrewsbury Town assistant boss Dave Cooke – is again likely to be left out for this weekend's home game against Brackley Town.
Watson hinted that Cooke was miffed at not starting games, but it was his call to usher the 21-year-old former Crewe youngster towards the exit door at the New Bucks Head.
The Telford boss said: "I just want everyone playing for the team and Sean feels that he hasn't had enough football, but where do I play him?
"We changed the shape of the team to try and accommodate him, he wants to play and probably needs to go somewhere where he can do that.
"At the moment, him coming here hasn't particularly worked out and he's not overly happy here, so I told him I was putting him on the transfer list.
"We have had a couple of enquiries and we will see what becomes of that later in the week, but no-one has shown firm interest with a bid. I have told two clubs the fee I want for him."
Cooke was snapped up from AFC Flyde on a two-year contract in the summer, after netting 23 goals for the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League side last season.
He arrived with a fractured leg, which delayed his debut until the start of October and, since then, he has been in and out of the team.
Robbie Booth has often been preferred on the right flank and, on Saturday, Charlie Barnett moved across to fill the gap in a tactical reshuffle.
Watson said last week he would use any cash gleaned from his sale to buy another midfielder and is keeping tabs on Chester's Ashley Williams.
The Bucks chief said: "I made an enquiry last week but there's nothing happening with that, at the moment, as Chester have a few injuries. He's been in and out of their team."
Another winger will return to the Telford ranks tonight when Mike Phenix resumes training, after collapsing at work 12 days ago.
Watson said: "I don't exactly know what it was but it was something to do with his stomach, he's had steroid injections every other day and he will be back training tonight. It was quite worrying."
