Cats legends’ tributes after long-serving Cooke is made redundant

Peter Reid, Michael Gray and Thomas Sorensen have paid tribute to long-serving Sunderland kit manager John Cooke after he was made redundant.

A C rowd f u n d i n g pa ge has also been set up by one fan to give Cooke - who had enjoyed more than 25 years in the role - the 'send off he deserves' following fan criticism of his departure.

The former Sunderland player-turned kit manager Cooke, meanwhile, has said it was 'very disappointing' to have been redundant 'without eve n a m e nt i o n th at I have left' and is considering his legal options.

Cooke said: "The way it has been handled leaves an especially sour taste, and I'm looking at what legal options are available to me."

Sunderland AFC has been approached for comment.

Popular with fans, playe r s a n d m a n a ge r s a l i ke, C o o ke wa s p l ac e d o n f u rlough leave in March with other backroom staff, but he was not recalled back to work.

Reacting to his departure o n T w i tter, G ray t we eted : "1st person to come to me when I missed my penalty... 26yrs service as player & Kitman. I will never forget that mate. good luck in your next venture COOKIE #safc you will be missed."

And former Sunderland boss Reid tweeted: "Great at his job, @SunderlandAFC w i l l m i s s h i s p e r s o n a l i ty, drive and humour."

Thomas Sorensen tweeted: "Cookie is a legend and has given eve rything to @ SunderlandAFC.

"The club should not fo rget to re c og n i s e a p e r - son who worked every day o f th e we e k , th roug h th e night at times, so us players could proudly wear the club badge."

* Nat io n a l L ea g ue c h ie f exe c ut ive M ic h ae l Tatte r - sall is set to resign from his position at the end of 2020.

The National League have come under fire due to its lack of transparency with clubs during the coronavirus pandemic.

And in a statement issued by league chairman Brain Barwick, Tattersall’s departure was confirmed.

The statement read: “Michael Tattersall is leaving his current role as Chief Executive Officer of the National League.

"He has formally tendered his resignation from the position, which has been accepted, and he will leave the company on December 31st 2020."