by Chinners » Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:04 pm
12 questions for Garry Cook Bollox
THE row over the bungled sacking of Mark Hughes by Manchester City on Saturday made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
City fans have voiced criticism about the way things were handled, particularly by chief executive Garry Cook.
This website has had a record response to Hughes' axing with well over a thousand comments from around the world.
In a vote of almost 5,000 supporters, opinions over whether the sacking was justified are split with just under 60 per cent saying it wasn't. So it is clear it is not the actual dismissal that is at issue, it is the way the club's image has been tarnished by the way it was carried out.
Here M.E.N. sports editor Peter Spencer asks the 12 questions he sincerely hopes Mr Cook will answer ASAP in an effort to help clear up the row that has gripped the football world. These questions were sent to Mr Cook on Monday night.
1: WHY did you attend the press conference when it was obvious your very presence would take the emphasis away from what could be described as an interesting appointment and certainly one that was highly newsworthy considering Mancini had barely been mentioned in speculation surrounding Hughes' future?
2: WHY was there such an emphasis on the loyalty Sheikh Mansour was going to show to Hughes and his backroom team? This was virtually every day reiterated by your increasing number of PR people. The media, including ourselves, believed this and the view was reflected in our reporting of club affairs so is it any wonder ourselves and therefore the club's supporters feel deceived?
3: ON reflection do you think the whole issue of the change in manager could have been handled better? You have been in this job long enough to know there are absolutely no secrets in football.
4: WHY did you delay the announcement until Saturday, making Hughes look foolish and many in the crowd bemused as word got round during the game against Sunderland?
5: WHAT exactly is the target in terms of points, position in the Premier League, silverware? Mancini has said HIS target is a top-four place but what would satisfy the owners particularly as Hughes believes he was achieving the target he had been set. Has the bar been raised?
6: IF Mancini doesn't do as well as Hughes - and his appointment is a huge gamble as he has never worked as a manager in this country - will he go at the end of the season? Is he really a stop-gap until there is a better chance of landing Mourinho?
7: ON reflection was it a mistake to sell Richard Dunne to aspiring rivals Villa? I accept hindsight is a great thing but his replacements have hardly been on top of their game and, while I'm on this, how close were City - truthfully - to signing John Terry?
8: IS it fair to say the scouting and assessment of possible big-money so-called superstar targets needs reviewing? I ask this because Robinho, Lescott, Toure, Adebayor and Bridge to name but five have not performed to the standard the majority of supporters expected.
9: WHY did City sign Robinho for a British record fee and was Hughes entirely in agreement? Is he going to be sold to Barcelona when the transfer window opens next week?
10: IT is obvious City need to sign a centre half next month but what else can be expected in terms of team strengthening? How much has Mancini got to spend and do you think the uncomfortable events over the last few days will hinder City's chances of landing reinforcements?
11: YOU want City to be a brand as well as a football club don't you? Well that brand is tarnished now so what can you do about it?
12: AND finally, the relationship that you have done so well to develop with the most important people of all, ie the fans, is now strained. What are you going to do to address this?
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