Cooke to Play the Waiting Game

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 20/05/2002

FORMER Manchester United winger Terry Cooke is prepared to wait until Grimsby come up with a contract offer after his current deal runs out in the summer, even if it means going on the dole for a while.

Speaking before today's latest contract statement from the board, Cooke revealed that Town boss Paul Groves is prepared to offer him a deal of some sort when their finances are a bit clearer.

Following Chairman Peter Furneaux's statement today that existing "contracts need to be renegotiated in order that more players can be brought in within the financial boundaries available", it would appear that the board intend to try saving money by paying their players currently under contract lower wages. Only by doing that would they be able to free up funds to offer Terry Cooke and Paul Groves' other contract targets new deals.

"I've not heard anything from anyone but I've got to wait and hope something comes up," Cooke told the Grimsby Telegraph.

"If they came up with something I'd consider it. I'm not sure what's happening with the TV money. But the manager said they definitely want to offer me a contract but what money and for how long I don't know. I'll be on the dole!"

With a large number of players expected to go onto the transfer market this summer in the wake of the ITV Digital collapse, Cooke believes new deals for Nationwide players are going to be few and far between.

"I'd like some security and to get a contract for a few years. I look on Sky Sports News everyday and it's really quiet.

"At the moment Grimsby are the only ones who have said they definitely want to give me something - but they haven't been in touch with me since.

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