Drogheda United boss Mick Cooke says that despite the messages of support and job offers he has received since his employers revealed their intention to part company with him at the end of the season his preference is to stay on if the board's stance on what he insists are "trivial matters" softens over the coming weeks.
Achieved success
Speaking at an event to promote this Saturday's EA Sports Cup final against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght, the former Monaghan United manager, who has achieved remarkable success with the club since arriving a couple of years ago, said that he has been sounded out about jobs in England and the United States in recent days but says that another job in the League of Ireland would be his preference in the event that the current impasse can't be resolved.
Most of all, though, he maintains that he wants to be part of the club’s future as it again prepares for a move away from United Park.
“I would very much love to be a part of it,” he says.
“The only player I didn’t bring to the club was Alan McNally and you know the squad we have here. . . I don’t think it would take too many extra players to challenge for the league.”
He insists, however, that the ball is now in the court of the club: “The club has issues,” he says, “I have no issues. I got a list of issues and I replied to it so it’s up to them. That’s their choice.
"That said I'm big and brave enough to get over these things and if the club don't want me there will be other opportunities as I've discovered over the last few days... and that's good to know.
On Course
After Monday night's defeat of Finn Harps, United are still on course for a third cup final of the campaign but Cooke is focused on Saturday's for now with United looking to avenge the hammering Rovers dished to them in the Setanta Cup decider back in May.
That 7-1 defeat came in Tallaght too and Cooke is understandably put out about the Dubliners, who haven’t won this competition since 1977, getting to play another final on home turf.
“I can’t why the powers that be could not have arranged the fixture at some other venue, he says. “There are other good stadiums. Richmond Park and Tolka Park.
"But it won't alter our preparations, the lads know we have to come here and we just get on with it. But we came here and won this competition last year so there is no reason why we can't do that again."
Sponsorship
EA Sports, meanwhile, have announced an extension to their sponsorship of the League Cup as well as a deepening of their involvement with the senior international team with the new deal running until the end of the 2015 season.
“We’ve enjoyed a strong and fruitful partnership with the FAI and Irish football,” said the company’s head of product marketing Dan Holman. “We now look forward to an even stronger relationship.”
