Back to the Sunderland Newsfeed

Sunderland prospect signs for North-East rivals Newcastle after branding Black Cats 'cowards with no class' for coldly sacking his father and kitman John Cooke... who served the club for 35 years

The Sunderland player who labelled the club’s hierarchy ‘cowards’ for making his father redundant has signed for North-East rivals Newcastle.

Sportsmail revealed last month that the Black Cats were investigating after Jay Turner-Cooke criticised the club when his father, former player and popular kitman John Cooke, was let go without any public acknowledgement after 35 years of service.

But now Turner-Cooke, 17, has penned a three-year deal with the Magpies, who have moved to snap up the highly-rated midfielder who had starred for Sunderland’s Under-23s.

Newcastle poached Jay Turner-Cooke from Sunderland after the talent slammed his old club
His father, John Cooke, was sacked by the club after 35-years of service without a send-off

His father, John Cooke, was sacked by the club after 35-years of service without a send-off

The player wrote on Twitter: ‘Proud moment signing a professional contract at NUFC.