By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 – Manchester City’s chief executive Garry Cook resigned today over an offensive email that plunged Europe’s richest new team into embarrassment.
Cook had been the subject of an internal investigation after sending an offensive email to the mother of City defender Nedum Onuoha.
Cook is understood to have claimed his email account had been hacked but has now admitted to an “error of judgement”, the latest in a series of clangers, which ultimately led to his downfall.
“I am privileged to have held my position at Manchester City Football Club and to have experienced the opportunities that it has presented,” Cook said in a statement.
“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.”
The offending email was said to have been sent 11 months ago but only came to light this week in a tabloid newspaper.
The message was apparently intended for City’s football administrator Brian Marwood.
In it, Cook appeared to make light of Onuoha’s mother, who was suffering from cancer while representing her son in a contract dispute with the club.
In accepting Cook’s resignation, City issued their own statement in which they said the club “can confirm that there is foundation” to the allegations, a massive embarrassment for a club owned by Abu Dhabi’s billionaire Mansour family with aspirations to become one of the leading teams in world football.
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