Shropshire Star

No way back at AFC Telford for Sean Cooke

Manager Steve Kittrick insists there is no way back at AFC Telford for midfielder Sean Cooke following their dramatic dressing room bust-up.

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The Bucks boss slammed the 22-year-old, claiming he would never play for the club again, following the incident which occurred after Saturday's 3-3 draw at Eastleigh.

And he has now further reiterated that stance, telling Cooke he is free to go and find another club.

"I think I've said enough about him," said Kittrick. "I have spoken to his agent who knows the situation.

"If he can find another club then we won't stand in his way. As far as I'm concerned that is him finished, there is no way back.

"It is not a case of it being the first time, what I said on Saturday was not off the cuff, it had been building up. If he can find another club, he can go tomorrow."

Kittrick reacted with fury when Cooke, who was not included in the squad at Eastleigh, refused to take part in the post-game warm down.

The manager accused the former AFC Fylde star of thinking he is "better than he is" before claiming the player's dad contacts him by phone every other day "saying how good he is."

Kittrick, who added former Shrewsbury Town skipper Ian Sharps to his ranks this week, insists any players who aren't fully focused on helping the Bucks in their scrap for Conference Premier survival will be booted out.

"In the position we are in I need players who are fully committed," he said. "I can't have people who are only 80 or 90 per cent committed. Players like that are going to be shown the door."

Cooke, who began his career at Crewe, has featured 24 times for the Bucks this season, scoring two goals, though he has mainly been utilised as a substitute.

A summer signing by former boss Liam Watson in 2013, he was transfer-listed later that year for opening showing dissent to the manager.

After spending part of last season on loan at AFC Fylde, he was brought back into the fold for the current campaign.

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