Steve Cook

[KZNSeagull]

It is worrying that a player of that potential is being allowed to leave. He has featured in two high profile games and acquitted himself very well. If we are going to cash in on a player it should be Dunk which would realise more as he has played more. The concern is that Cook has a contract up at the end of the season and it would appear there is no talk of renewing it. It may be that Cook has said he wants to play and won't renew but that is hardly the message coming out. GP doesn't have a great reputation for using the youngsters. Dunk only played out of necessity and proved to be very good. What about the other youngsters? Maybe they will get a chance in the cup game or we might see the likes of JCF moving on. Agdestein has never been giving a chance yet he has scored lots for the development squad. What do we do. We sign Paynter on loan and not by any stretch of the imagination has he done anything to warrant a permanent move or even an extension of his loan.

You make some interesting points. The key with anyone in the development squad moving on is what their expectations and ambitions are, not the clubs.

Gus can only be honest with them and tell them where they stand - currently Cook stands at 4th pick behind Greer, Dunk and El-Abd. When Elphick is fit, he may drop to 5th. All we can offer at the moment is possibly some bench time and the odd cup game.

Cook is still in Gus's plans as he has said this, but at the end of the day it is up to Cook to decide what he would rather do - play regularly at a lower league club or wait his chance with us (a chance which may never come).

As long as the club are honest with Cook and the others and they make a decision based upon that, then the club or Gus can do no more. I would be more worried about the club giving development players false expectations and keeping players under false pretences.