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Cohen on strike at Saints
Ben Cohen has gone on strike at Northampton after being overlooked for the role of club captain.
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Comments (8)
Simon Redshaw says...
I don't know enough of how Saints treated him to make too much comment, although I am not sure how Northampton have shown a lack of discretion. Maybe I have missed something! That said, I agree that Ben Cohen has come out of this poorly and has acted like a petulant child, throwing his toys out of the pram because the club didn't end up giving him the captaincy. He has been a long time at Saints but you can't have one or two players thinking they are bigger then a club and running the show. Can't see Tigers wanting Ben Cohen, to be honest. He's not the sort of character who would fit in and by the looks of this, he wouldn't like not having the captaincy at Tigers and would sulk too. Maybe he just doesn't want to play in Division 1 but could have been more honest about that, if that was the case.
Posted 08:41 25th August 2007
Henry Moon says...
Northampton do have a record of showing players the door in a shabby way. After Ben's spell at the club, he was evidently pinning all his hopes on leading them back to the Premiership, perhaps assuming that after last season's debacle they would change the skipper. He's understandably upset. So what do Northampton do? They get straight on the blower and make this a headline story in every rugby section and on every rugby site. If this doesn't force him out, then they'll try something else to lower the wage bill.
Posted 08:21 25th August 2007
Karen Day says...
As a Leicester Tigers fan, I would welocme Ben. Mainly because he is GORGEOUS !!
Posted 12:56 23rd August 2007
Dave Parry says...
Two sides to this I reckon... Cohen... stop behaving like a child and deal with the fact that professional rugby demands certain qualities of a captain. Qualities which this little strop has most definitely proven that you DO NOT have. For me this is still the fall out from Saints relegation to National One. Perhaps a last ditch attempt to obtain a transfer to a premiership club. Strike for the right reasons Ben - fair treatment, pay or a decent benefits packages. Don't strike because you disagree with the coach. That said... Northampton perhaps should have shown more discretion in dealing with this matter. Controversey has never been too far away in recent years and perhaps that has as much to do with the clubs policy on commenting on internal matters than anything else. All the best for a swift return to the top flight Saints. Don't let one small element of an otherwise very capable team let you down.
Posted 10:50 23rd August 2007
Jon Tiffen says...
Dawson was forced out of Saints too. Seems if you devout your life to Saints they run off and choose anybody else. Good luck at the Tigers Ben.
Posted 08:10 23rd August 2007
Ron Burgandy says...
Grow up man! I didn't get the promotion at work I was hoping for - I haven't gone on strike! If I had, I would have probably been sacked! Over the last 11 years at Northampton i would have thought you would have built up an idea of how a team operates. It doesn't invole throwing your toys out of your pram!
Posted 16:31 22nd August 2007
Tony Pentland says...
I have been a great supporter of Ben Cohen even before he came to fame Northampton Saints has been his life and soul for 11 years. He has made many personal sacrifices for the club putting them first before family and its sad that the club in his benefit year can not resolve the matter privately with Ben. Ben could have decided to move from Northampton but stayed to devote himself to the club and in my view he is a good first choice as team captain.
Posted 14:47 22nd August 2007
David Herbert says...
Best thing that could have happened. He has not had any form for years, and if someone is going to refuse to play after not recieving the captaincy, they dont deserve to play in any team. Smacks of petulance
Posted 14:03 22nd August 2007