Darrell Clarke Confirms Andy Cook Had Asked to Leave the Club

Walsall Football Club are on the look out for a new striker as last season's top-scorer Andy Cook has today completed a transfer to Mansfield Town for an as-yet undisclosed fee.

Cook, who joined the Saddlers from then-National League Play-Off winners Tranmere Rovers last summer and went on to score eighteen goals in fifty first-team appearances, had recently expressed his desire to leave the club, following our relegation to League Two.

Walsall FC can today confirm that striker Andy Cook has joined Mansfield Town for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old joined the Saddlers from Tranmere Rovers in May 2018 and scored 18 goals in 50 appearances during his only season with the club.

- Walsall FC

Following the news of Cook's departure, manager Darrell Clarke spoke to club journalists and confirmed the striker's desire to leave and admitted that it was something he was expecting as he looks to build towards the upcoming season-opening clash with Northampton Town.

Speaking via the club's official website, Darrell said; "On the very first phone call I had with Andy Cook numerous weeks ago, his desire was to leave the football club.

"That’s football and we only want players at Walsall who want to be here and that wasn’t the case with Andy Cook. We’ve been working away in the background to get the best price.

"We thank him for his efforts and move forward as a club. This is something I was expecting and we look forward to bringing in new recruits over the coming weeks."

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By Bescot Banter at 5:30 pm on Friday, 21 June 2019