Paul Cooke used to be one of my favourite players until he shat all over the club and its fans and i dont feel anything towards the guy other than contempt. He's not all sweetness and light despite how he may of come accross in the interview. Could of been an FC legend, instead he's an ex FC Bellend

Rubbish. No matter how badly he might have been messed about he [itook the money[/i and therefore accepted his contract. Walking out when and how he did was basically sticking two fingers up at the fans and his teammates. He deserves nothing but contempt for those actions.

It's also worth mentioning that the club stood behind and supported him legally and financially on at least a couple of occasions when others might not have. The last regime may have been bad, but Cooke has no excuses for what he did.

A tempting offer from his boyhood club certainly swung things, if you were playing for Rovers and what could be your only chance to play for FC presented itself, would you take it at the risk of upsetting your team mates/fans?

I agree, and I don't think he'll ever be forgiven for what he did, but I'm starting to understand why he did it, and how the previous board need to take a portion of the blame, and I'm quite looking forward to his book when it's released, but I'll be borrowing it from someone else, not buying myself!

I thought it was a really good interview, and Cooke came across much better than I expected.

That depends. Have I spent the last season or so taking money for a contract that I now decide to tear up?

But its not as though he took the money and didn't play for you is it? Or that he carried on taking money after he left?

Irrelevant. Both morally and legally by accepting payments specified in the unsigned contract he accepted all the terms of that contract.

By the letter of the law you are right but if you was in that position and the clubs were reversed would you probably in all honesty not try and move to your boyhood club?

I like to think I'd have more respect for myself, the fans who paid my wages, and my colleagues. In other words some basic self respect and a sense of responsibility. But then I already know that Cooke lacks either.

The thing I don't get is he never signed any contract, so was effectively playing on a pay as you play basis. He may have been penalised by the RFL, but I'm not so sure whether he could have took it further to get more success.

If I start working for a company and do not sign a contract, then if I decide to go work elsewhere tomorrow they have no hold over me.

I also think that you have to take into account he and other players showed loyalty to FC when they played but did not get paid.

In the end if he had played another year then maybe he would have got his testimonial in 2009 instead. So it does seam to have been a bit of brinkmanship by both FC and Cooke and for me as an outsider, both took the hit on this. Cooke in terms of his personal life and FC in terms of backsliding from a position of winning trophies to becoming a midtable team for a number of years, which they only seam to have started to turn around this year.

In the end not a good result for anyone really.

You were entitled to a period of notice. Though it was claimed that you (Hull FC) waived this by accepting his resignation with immediate effect.

Ah, just like old times.



It was an interesting insight. I tend to think of players almost as actors in a sporting drama and Cooke just happened to have a particularly compelling story arc, while they actually live it.

Given a decent writer, his book could be a properly good sports biography.

A written contract of employment does not have to be signed by either party, it can be deemed valid simply by performance of the contract (i.e. you work, they pay you). It is a legal requirement for both parties to sign terms and conditions of employment, not a contract.

I was promoted at my old job and never signed a new contract but got paid the money for being in charge,didnt stop them sacking me though so loyalty cuts both ways.The old board was a utter shambles and,in a way,you can see why he legged it and he did admit that he did it wrong.Thought it was a really good interview personally.Wont forgive him for what he did but i applaud him for saying he had problems and good luck in his charity work.

Tbf, even Cooke himself says it wasn't about joining Rovers. We were convenient and willing, in his version - players can't afford to be sentimental.

Its a short career and anything can happen...Rovers were willing to sling big money his way...(testimonial and legal expenses paid sweetner )was 1 rumour going around.

So one good moment in a half hearted career makes him a superman??

Don't think so. Won't be watching. Couldn't care less what he does or what happens to him!!

You either didn't watch him play for us or have let the controversy surrounding his departure blur your memory, because he certainly had more than 'one good moment' in a black and white shirt.

Some people really need to move on.

I've just watched the programme which was excellent viewing. Cooke left the club on what in his mind was a matter of principle. As it turned out it was (apart from a couple of derby victories) a very poor move for him. The frustrating thing was, had he stayed at Hull FC and had Richard Swain not had to retire we would quite likely have returned to Old Trafford in 2007.

Off the pitch he went off the rails but fair play to him for turning things around and I wish him well in his fund raising.

On another point, I must say that Brian Carney has become a very good interviewer.

I will never forget that try in the 2005 CC final.

I will never forgive him for what he did to our club.

No he wasn't. Go check up on employment/contract law.

If by 'move on' you mean forgive him for what he did to our club then I really don't see any reason to do so. He clearly doesn't feel that he did anything wrong and is only sorry for the effect his decision had on him personally. On the other hand it hardly keeps me awake nights seething and plotting revenge - I'm happy that life has more than adequately rewarded him for his transgression.

Aye...is.his mum dyeing included in that bitter assesment then.

Indeed, it's like the sympathy for Raynor, they both made their own beds, I've known people suffer far worse depression through no fault of their own.

Of course not. I meant career-wise as you very well know. I've lost a parent to serious illness myself and wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

No i didnt know as you didnt state "playing" wise.