Forest Green’s Cooper doesn’t feel ‘let down’ by Noble’s Notts County move

(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)

By Alex Beard

Forest Green Rovers manager Mark Cooper has admitted the club had no choice but to release Liam Noble, and insists he doesn’t feel let down by the midfielder’s subsequent return to Notts County.

The League Two outfit released the 26-year-old recently, with Noble citing a desire to move nearer his family in the North East.

He had only just signed a three year contract extension at the New Lawn in the summer, on the back of the club turning down a £100,000 offer for him from County.

Now Kevin Nolan’s side have got their man for nothing, but Cooper insists he feels no animosity towards the former Sunderland man.

“Liam had a medical condition which he said meant he had to be near his family in the North East,” he told BBC Radio Gloucester.

“We have a duty of care and we decided to help Liam out with that. Because of the medical issue and the need to be around his young family, we decided to let him go.

“I don’t feel let down, football is football. He’s moved on and we’ve signed a really good midfielder in Isiah Osbourne.

“Liam will take his time. He can’t play for them until January. Let’s see how he does, he’s got to get in their team first.

“Once Liam had demanded to move to the North East and his heart wasn’t in playing for us, we ripped the contract up. He had a three year contract, so we’ve saved three years worth of money.”