Cooke Sacked

**ATFC-1887** · 28/04/2014, 12:32 AM

Strong rumour Cooke has been sacked tonight.

**MiniMourinho** · 28/04/2014, 6:09 AM

Karma is a b*tch.
Feel sorry for Athlone.

**PartySaint** · 28/04/2014, 6:42 AM

I guess we'll see tonight at our Leinster Senior Cup game

**nigel-harps1954** · 28/04/2014, 8:21 AM

Only a matter of time really.

**Mr A** · 28/04/2014, 9:54 AM

This is what happens when you break faith with the Rodster- Derry City take note. Don't sack him, or things will get much worse.

**atfconline** · 28/04/2014, 12:26 PM

Now confirmed...http://athlonetownfc.ie/club-statement-2/

**IrishRossi** · 28/04/2014, 12:30 PM

we will give ye cousins

**ATFC-1887** · 28/04/2014, 12:38 PM

Keith Long new boss. Announced tomorrow evening.

**Bray Head** · 28/04/2014, 12:42 PM

It's hard to see who would be interested in taking over as it will be tough for Athlone to even make the play off spot now. It almost worked for Shelbourne last year when they changed manager but when you have a bad start you are always on catch up.

**Acer** · 28/04/2014, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by Bray Head

It's hard to see who would be interested in taking over as it will be tough for Athlone to even make the play off spot now. It almost worked for Shelbourne last year when they changed manager but when you have a bad start you are always on catch up.

Surely it's a win-win situation for whoever comes in. Expectations must be at an all time low in Athlone. If the new guy (Long) wins just 1 game he's already an improvement on the previous boss. I don't hold the same hatred towards Cooke that most Drog fans seem to but his recent record is brutal. Even if you include last season with ourselves it stands at only 8 wins in 43 games. I'd be surprised to see him get a new job any time soon.

**KeepersBall** · 28/04/2014, 2:25 PM

All I will say is this, the chairman at Athlone got involved in a row with the under 19s manager early in their season and ended up sacking him.
At that point under the gaffer Mickey Collins they were third in the table, he brought in Mickey O'Connor as manager and they ended up third from bottom.
Inside information told me that Collins was sacked because he wouldn't play the chairmans son, something another source later confirmed.
Previous to this I happened to be in the company of the former Athlone boss when he had a meet with the chairman, he came out and he said to me 'Either he has no money or he doesn't have a clue how much it will cost to even survive in the top division'.
I wouldn't entirely lay all the blame at Cookes door.
Also as a Drogs fan I will advise you to be careful what you wish for, look what we have ended up with after shafting Cooke.

**Martinho II** · 28/04/2014, 4:46 PM

Originally Posted by ATFC-1887

Keith Long new boss. Announced tomorrow evening.

surprise apt that. I know that Long was with Pat Devlin last season. Was he no 2 to MC before he quit?

**MiniMourinho** · 28/04/2014, 5:29 PM

Originally Posted by KeepersBall

All I will say is this, the chairman at Athlone got involved in a row with the under 19s manager early in their season and ended up sacking him.
At that point under the gaffer Mickey Collins they were third in the table, he brought in Mickey O'Connor as manager and they ended up third from bottom.
Inside information told me that Collins was sacked because he wouldn't play the chairmans son, something another source later confirmed.
Previous to this I happened to be in the company of the former Athlone boss when he had a meet with the chairman, he came out and he said to me 'Either he has no money or he doesn't have a clue how much it will cost to even survive in the top division'.
I wouldn't entirely lay all the blame at Cookes door.
Also as a Drogs fan I will advise you to be careful what you wish for, look what we have ended up with after shafting Cooke.

Current league position would beg to differ. Three defeats from 10 games, with a budget of equal stature to Athlone. Mick won't manage in the premier again. His honourable 'resignation' has cemented that.

**Charlie Darwin** · 28/04/2014, 5:55 PM

Originally Posted by KeepersBall

Inside information told me that Collins was sacked because he wouldn't play the chairmans son, something another source later confirmed.

Did the chairman's son play the same position as Roddy's son?

**KeepersBall** · 28/04/2014, 6:11 PM

Originally Posted by MiniMourinho

Current league position would beg to differ. Three defeats from 10 games, with a budget of equal stature to Athlone. Mick won't manage in the premier again. His honourable 'resignation' has cemented that.

At least this time it was done honourably as you say.

**MiniMourinho** · 28/04/2014, 6:13 PM

If you think Mick Cooke left without a pay-off you are deluded. I think the words used were 'mutual consent'. Code word for an agreement was made for him to step down. The man hasn't an honourable bone in his body.

**Charlie Darwin** · 28/04/2014, 7:47 PM

It's amazing how quickly the same few faces appear as soon as Mick Cooke is in the news. Like clockwork.

**KeepersBall** · 28/04/2014, 8:03 PM

Originally Posted by MiniMourinho

If you think Mick Cooke left without a pay-off you are deluded. I think the words used were 'mutual consent'. Code word for an agreement was made for him to step down. The man hasn't an honourable bone in his body.

I may be wrong but do the laws of libel not apply on this here board.
Opinions are one thing, and we can all agree to differ, but to make a comment like the last one there is sailing pretty close to the wind.

**Charlie Darwin** · 28/04/2014, 8:14 PM

Originally Posted by KeepersBall

I may be wrong but do the laws of libel not apply on this here board.
Opinions are one thing, and we can all agree to differ, but to make a comment like the last one there is sailing pretty close to the wind.

It's defamation now - libel was the old law. Calling somebody dishonourable could be construed like that but I doubt Mick Cooke gives a fig about what somebody with an axe to grind has to say about him on a message board.

**Nesta99** · 28/04/2014, 8:18 PM

Of ourse Libel Laws apply here, didnt you notice the absence of a Wicklow Club forum for such reasons. MM has said plenty about Cooke in the past and has also stated opinion as fact. MM also has made no secret of his identity either, to react in a legal manner to such a comment as above would be imo petty and highly unlikely to rank as sufficient as to be worth one's while pursuing. I think MM is bitter myself but i'm sure he differs, will counter, without my worrying about being legally gagged!