£104,000 claim could cripple Terras
By Derek Bish

Friday 12rth February 2010

WEYMOUTH FC will challenge a legal claim from former commercial manager Andrew Cooke that Terras’ chairman George Rolls believes could cripple the beleaguered club.

Cooke says he is owed £104,000 by Weymouth after leaving his job at the Wessex Stadium towards the end of 2009.

If Cooke does not receive the money he believes he is entitled to then he could be in a position to issue a winding up order against the Terras.

Rolls, who has previously stated that Cooke resigned before he took control of Weymouth, said: “I can confirm that Andrew Cooke has sent a legal document looking for reimbursement of £104,000 for his time in service at Weymouth Football Club.

“Weymouth Football Club will challenge the claim. However, it is a grave situation and if Andrew Cooke persists with this action it has the potential for this football club to no longer exist.

“I’m devastated by the claim. Andrew Cooke has done a very good job for Weymouth Football Club but he is now claiming £104,000.”

Battens Solicitors confirmed that they were acting on behalf of Cooke but would make no further comment while Cooke himself remains tight-lipped on the situation.

Rolls says he has already seriously reduced the level of the Terras’ debt, which stood in the region of £735,000 when he took over, but another £104,000 would hit the club extremely hard.