Carlton Cole To Be Sacked By Indonesian Club Persib Bandung For Embarrassing Reason

Former West Ham, Chelsea, Celtic and Sacramento Republic striker Carlton Cole has been left 'flabbergasted' after news emerged that he will be sacked by Indonesian Super League side Persib Bandung.

In a bizarre set of circumstances, Persib's manager Umuh Muchtarhas ripped into the former England international, declaring that the 33-year-old has played "very badly" during his time at the club and will be replaced immediately.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Muchtar said: "It's the management's decision to dismiss him, we will have a new player in the second round of the season.

"He plays very badly compared to the other (foreign players) who have joined Persib. He had the worst performance. We must quickly find Cole's replacement.

"Maybe it will cost us a lot of money to do so, but that is what we have to do."

If that wasn't enough embarrassment for one day, Cole then spoke to TalkSPORT and admitted that he is 'fit as a fiddle' and puts the decision down to 'politics'.

Cole told TalkSPORT: "I am fit as a fiddle. The manager didn't bring me here and he doesn't want me to play. That's what's going on.

"I have the full backing of the board. There's a war going on in the club that I am a part of. He wants to bring his own players in so he can get paid. There's a lot of things going on behind the scenes.

"I have started two games out of 16 because he has not wanted to play me.

He went onto to talk about former Chelsea midfielder and teammate Michael Essein, who has also felt the wrath of manager Umuh Muchtar:

"Me and Michael Essien are playing catch up. There's no reserve league here. He's trying to point fingers because of his bad management. "I don't like to leave unfinished business. I don't want to be in the middle. The fans have been unbelievable.

"It's very political, but I want to carry on here and progress with the team. I get the blame for everything!

"I am flabbergasted. The manager is trying to get me out. It's difficult because of one guy. I will resolve it."

Cole only joined the club in March this year after signing a ten-month contract, but has yet to score for the club.

(H/T: Sky Sports)

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

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