Cook: My errors embarrassed City fans

07 June 2012 09:17

Former chief executive Garry Cook admits he felt he had embarrassed Manchester City supporters with some of the errors he made while at the club.

Cook resigned from his post at the Etihad Stadium last September following an internal investigation into claims he sent an offensive email to the mother of player Nedum Onuoha. Cook had denied he sent the message. That departure brought to an end a turbulent three years as chief executive which included a number of public relations gaffes.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester in an interview to be broadcast in full on Thursday evening, Cook said: "There are no excuses. There are my interpretations and there are the interpretations of the press."

Cook's gaffes included referring to City's previous owner Thaksin Shinawatra, who was found guilty of corruption in a Thai court, as a "nice guy", criticising former player of the year Richard Dunne, and accusing AC Milan of "bottling it" over the possible sale of Brazil playmaker Kaka to City.

Cook was also jeered at an official supporters' club function when he announced "I would like to welcome Uwe Rosler into the Manchester United Hall of Fame."

He added: "The thing I always felt when those interpretations were manifested was the embarrassment I'd caused the fans.

"In the end, I really felt that I didn't want to continue being the scapegoat of Manchester City and the point of attack.

"I am who I am but I was getting more and more concerned that it was becoming more about me than it was about the football club and the fans.

"That's not fair to them, it's their club and they deserve better than that."

Source: PA