Carlton Cole to be sacked by Indonesian club Persib for failing to score a single goal since signing in March
Persib boss Umuh Muchtar has again torn into former England international and says that Cole will leave club
CARLTON COLE is to be sacked by Indonesian club Persib for failing to score a single goal since signing.
Having penned a one-year deal in March, Cole has been on the end of a series of verbal bashings from Persib boss Umuh Muchtar.
Muchtar now says Cole, 33, has played "very badly" and will be replaced for the second stage of the season, which starts on Saturday.
He 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."
In May he Muchtar said that playing with Cole was like playing with ten men.
Cole has hit back at what he believes are a string of personal attacks.
He posted on Instagram: "I will be professional and calm as I usually am. But this direct attack on me for the whole season must stop.
Look at yourself first before you point fingers at good people.
I was very surprised and disappointed what came out of Umuh Muchtar's.
"When you intentionally try to damage my career that I have worked so hard for it starts to get personal.
"I have not once mentioned this man's name in a bad way, he has not once supported me since I arrived at the club.
"And I haven't been treated fairly but I kept my mouth shut and worked hard and kept everything professional.
"I am still Persib player until I tell you otherwise. I have a one-year contract here and I have enjoyed it so far even though I have had to turn a blind eye to these direct attacks from this man.
The former Chelsea, West Ham and England striker arrived to much fanfare two weeks after Blues legend Michael Essien signed for the Bandung-based club.
Neither got off to a great start, with the threat of five years in jail for playing their first game without the correct paperwork.
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In hasn't got much better for either player, with Cole and Essien heavily criticised by the club's outspoken boss since.
Seven-cap Cole was forced to deny that he had left the club in June.
At the time, Muchtar said: “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.”
He also laid into Essien for taking – and missing – a penalty that was designated for another player.
Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir –who is also president of Italian giants Inter Milan – went on a brief spending spree in the hope of turning his team into a force within Indonesia's new league.
Eighteen teams play in the new Liga 1, which was formed after a row between Indonesia's sports ministry and football association prompted the country's suspension by Fifa.
It meant that the country was without a football league for two years.
Persib are currently 14th after 17 games, seven points above the drop zone.