Emailgate: Cook Resigns Ahead Of City's Big Push

An unsavoury epsiode played out from the dreadful Sun to City's official website has concluded with the resignation of City Chief Executive Officer Garry Cook...

MCFC's boardroom led investigation into allegations that Cook sent an extremely inappropriate email to Nedum Onuoha's cancer stricken mother just under a year ago has ended and Cook's assertion that a hacker sent the email was obviously not the case.

Much has been made upon various grassy knolls over why the matter took a year to fall into Sun hack Shaun Custis' hands. The suggestion that Kia Joorabchian who although not a registered football agent has been at war with Cook for years has been well documented. Did he have a say? For his part, Joorabchian publicly denied last week any involvement with Onuoha who has failed to hold down a team place at City yet last month spoke about Onuoha's situation to BBC Sport.

I guess we'll never know, but Cook's decision to go now means that the club can immediately focus on building upon a terrific start to the season and the dawning of our first ever Champions League campaign.

Contrary to what you'll read in The Street of Shame, Cook was tremendously popular in and around SportCity and he had been behind many new supporter initiatives we have seen at City. It's a great shame that the stupidity of the email denial and the strange manner of it's disclosure should signal his downfall at City during such an exciting time. Cook leaves a club which is unrecognisable from the one he first arrived at.

Club statement:

'Manchester City Football Club announce that the Board led review initiated on Monday of this week, as a response to allegations made to the football club, football authorities and a national newspaper by Dr Anthonia Onuoha, has been concluded.

As a result, the Club can confirm that there is foundation to Dr Onuoha's allegations and the Chairman has written to apologise to Dr Onuoha for any distress caused.

Following the findings of the review, Chief Executive Officer Garry Cook has offered his resignation, which has been accepted with regret by the Board.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak responded to the decision, saying:

'Garry has made a remarkable contribution to Manchester City Football Club over the past three years.

'His judgement in this matter should in no way lead to his accomplishments being overlooked. On every level, the club is unrecognisable from the organisation which he inherited and our staff and supporter services, community outreach and commercial activity have seen unparalleled growth under his direction with yet more projects to be realised on the horizon.

'On behalf of Sheikh Mansour and the Board, I would like to thank him for his energy and tireless commitment to serving all those connected with the football club. He will always be welcome at Manchester City.'

Garry Cook said:

'I am privileged to have held my position at Manchester City Football Club and to have experienced the opportunities that it has presented. The privilege is in part offset however by the significant personal focus which has at times, detracted from the magnificent achievements of those working at the football club.

'It is that factor, together with my error of judgement in this matter that has prompted me to reach this decision, which I believe is in the best interests of the football club.

'I wish Roberto and his team and all of the fans and supportive partners of the Club the very best for exciting times ahead. I would also like to put on record my unreserved thanks to Sheikh Mansour, Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the Board and all of the very talented staff at the Club for their support throughout my tenure at Manchester City. I know the Club will go from strength to strength.'

Whilst the Board commences a search for a new Chief Executive Officer, Director John MacBeath will fulfil the role of temporary CEO, working closely with the Board.'

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