New Walsall striker Andy Cook has today said Walsall manager Dean Keates was one of the reasons he joined the club – as the prolific striker penned a two year deal with the Saddlers.
Cook knows Deano from his time in the Conference and said he knows what Deano is like as a person and is excited about what Keates is trying to do with the club.
Speaking to Walsall FC Official Site – Cook said
“This is a big step up to a big club. I know the manager from his time at Wrexham and I know what he is about; I’m excited by the challenge and where he wants to take the club.”
Keates has paid tribute to Cook this morning following the announcement saying he has always admired him as a player and feels the step up to League 1 won’t be difficult for him.
“He’s somebody I’ve admired for a long time,”
“As soon as I got the job here and knew he was out of contract; I made him my primary target. I’m delighted to have gotten this over the line as there were plenty of clubs in for him – his record speaks for itself – and I’m looking forward to working with him. I have no qualms about him stepping up to League One.”
Our Twitter account is already in meltdown following the news that Cook is a Saddler for the next two years at least and to sign a proven number nine so early in the summer shows that Dean Keates means business. With the Saddlers set to play 4-4-2 next season it will be interesting to see the wingers Keates now tries to bring in to provided crosses for Cook to nod in. Former Saddlers Zeli Ismail and Milan Lalkovic are already on the radar of Dean Keates as we confirmed last week Keates Hints At Lalkovic Trial
Cook was seen holding the new 2018/19 shirt and we can expect to see it in its entirety later this week.
“I’ve scored 51 goals in the last two years at National League level and now I want to prove myself in the EFL”
Read more from our summer signing here 👉 https://t.co/UZu0hv1dQj pic.twitter.com/BtK8bLdvaR
— Walsall FC Official (@WFCOfficial) May 22, 2018
