Nottingham Forest FC

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Cole opts to hang up his boots

11 Nov 2008 - 09:34:36

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Former England international striker Andy Cole has decided to end his playing career after leaving Nottingham Forest.

The 37-year-old scored 229 goals in 509 League games for his 13 clubs in a 19-year professional career but failed to find the net in 11 appearances for Forest this term.

"It isn't the ideal ending," Cole admitted to The Times. "But it just wasn't working out.

"I told Forest from the outset that I didn't want to go there to sit on the bench because I didn't want to be perceived as sitting back and making easy money.

"I wanted to go there and offer something, but it was a strange one from the start. I never knew what my role was. Was it to lend a hand, use my experience, or was it a PR thing, to sell a few more season tickets? I still don't know.

"I felt like the manager wouldn't have a conversation with me. I don't know if it's the right word, but he seemed kind of intimidated by me.

"People will look at it and say this is how they expected me to go, in a huff or in some kind of controversy, but it wasn't like that.

"I just wish Forest could have been honest. I've always been honest in my career, maybe too honest for my own good."