Former Claret causes an international incident

Last updated : 12 February 2002 By Tony Scholes

English 3rd Division club Luton Town have made an offer of £300,000 for Icelandic club Stoke City's former Burnley striker Andy Cooke. The Icelanders are not at all happy with this and have got a bit stroppy over it.

Their manager Gudjon Thordason, a very fair man as long as everything is going his way, said that Cooke is not for sale although he might sell him. This must be Icelandic logic that is alien to us here in England.

Undeterred though Joe Kinnear is now expected to make a new offer for the striker he believes will guarantee Luton's promotion back into the 2nd Division after relagation last season.

Andy Cooke has been unavailable for comment, this week he is on Stage 2 of his ‘Learning Icelandic' course which requires him to change his name to Andy Cookessson, although whether the Shropshire born player would want to move down a division and also into Bedfordshire remains a doubt.

Having got used to the severe Icelandic winters in the Potteries he is expected to turn down any offer although I suspect that Gudjon has decided that maybe it is time for Andy to go as his own side push for a promotion for themselves.