Garry Cook, the former Nike executive who became a key executive at big spender Manchester City, was in hot water over allegations that an email from his iPad was sent to the mother of young City defender Nedum Onuoha, apparently mocking the fact that she had cancer. City management was investigating the matter after the email exchange involving Dr. Anthonia Onuoha, who was representing her son, City official Brian Marwood and Cook.

Dr. Onuoha, had emailed Marwood to inform him that while her body might be “ravaged with cancer and ongoing chemotherapy,” she would continue to act on her son’s behalf. She then received an email addressed to "Brian," saying,  “Ravaged with it!!......I don’t now how you sleep at night. You used to be such a nice man when I worked with you at Nike [sic]."

Cook, City's CEO, insisted to Dr. Onuoha that he had not been responsible for the email's content and  had indeed been in South Africa when it had been sent. He wrote her: “I cannot and will not condone this unacceptable behavior. I can confirm Brian did not receive this email and disciplinary action is currently under way regarding one of our employees.”