No going back for sacked Cook (Story posted 21.02.02)

MAIDENHEAD UNITED skipper Tim Cook was dramatically sacked this week, following a bad-tempered bust up with manager Alan Devonshire.
His departure comes after 368 appearances for the Magpies, and seems to have been triggered by his absence from the team in recent weeks.
Cook said: “There have been a lot of disagreements and on Tuesday I was asked to leave the club.
“I don’t want to say too much but my problem is not with Maidenhead Football Club.
“I’m upset to be leaving, and with the way things have gone, but these things happen.
“Maidenhead has been my life for the last eight years and I wish them the very best.”
However, there was a sting in the tail.
He added: “I have made it clear to the chairman that I would be interested in coming back if the manager’s job became available.
“But, while Dev is the manager, I won’t be returning to Maidenhead.”
Cook has already made an approach to local Premier rivals Chesham United, also mentioning a possible move to Aldershot, of all places.
He said: “If Dev took the Aldershot job I’d leave and come back to Maidenhead.”
Cook’s defensive partner Steve Croxford has now been named club captain.
The news adds to a worrying air of unease at York Road, which descended soon after George Borg quit his managerial post at Aldershot.
And, despite consistent denials of a possible move to the Recreation Ground, Devonshire has again been linked with the club, this time by Shots chairman Karl Prentice.
Talking in the Daily Telegraph this week, Prentice said: “Alan Devonshire has solid managerial experience in this league but we will not be making any decisions until we have looked at all the applications.”
This seems to imply that the former West Ham star is still very much in the frame to replace George Borg, although Devonshire’s contract at Maidenhead prevents him from actually applying for the job.
Maidenhead chairman Roger Coombs said: “Dev won’t be making any application.
“He’s not at liberty to make an application while he’s under contract here.”
However, that might not prevent the Shots from approaching Devonshire.
United’s performance against Aldershot at York Road on Saturday will certainly have strengthen his chances of landing the job, only an injury-time blunder by keeper Richard Barnard denying the Magpies a share of the points.
However, the fiery coach was incandescent with rage after the last minute defeat, venting his frustrations very loudly in the changing rooms and the board room.
He said: “Both their goals came from lumps up the field from the half-way line. We should have dealt with it. I was very frustrated, especially after what happened in the Sutton game. It was just bad defending.”

Tomorrow (Saturday) his players can redeem themselves when they travel to Essex to take on Heybridge Swifts. On Tuesday, they face a tough match against St Albans at York Road, kick-off 7.45pm.

Slough Town won through to the semi-final of the Berks & Bucks Cup on Tuesday night, setting up a mouthwatering derby against old foes Maidenhead at York Road.