Cook plays down City fears

Takeover set to be completed this week

Last updated: 15th September 2008

Manchester City supremo Garry Cook

Cook: Not worried

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Manchester City executive chairman Garry Cook has reassured supporters that the club's history will not be 'wiped away'.

The Abu Dhabi United Group are set to complete their takeover of City this week after a deal was agreed on 1st September.

Reports suggest that a new board will be formed including members of the Abu Dhabi team such as director of strategic communications Simon Pearce.

Cook is also expected to be a part of City's new hierarchy and he has told fans not to worry in any way about the future of the club.

While expectations have been raised by the promises of world-class players, there have been some concerns that City could lose their identity, while the club's youngsters could also find it difficult to break through.

Academy

"Sheikh Mansour and his team have made it clear from the start that they do not want to wipe away history - far from it," Cook told the Manchester Evening News.

"They are extremely keen on our hugely successful Academy and Jim Cassell was one of the first people their representative wanted to meet when he visited Manchester.

"They have made it clear that they intend to provide the funds to secure the services of some of the brightest talent on the planet but they also want to build a team to include the staff, the players and our supporters."