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Looks like Burrell was correct. They did harm to our reputation.
Transfer failure plunges Ricketts to reserves
Howard Walker, Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Ricketts. right now I am just training and playing reserves
Jamaica's goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts' collapsed move to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) has not only left the player devastated, but also demoted to reserve games at Bradford City.
Ricketts, 30, was on the verge of signing with League Championship outfit QPR last week when the deal fell through.
He had passed a medical, agreed personal terms and was waiting on a work permit from the British Home Office that was never granted based for three main reasons:
a) Jamaica's low FIFA world ranking which should average below 70 over the last two years;
b) His lack of international appearances for his country and;
c) He was not assured of being the starting goalkeeper at his new club.
Now he is back at Bradford City where his contract expires at the end of the season, and the veteran goalkeeper has been relegated in the pecking order to Scott Loach, who was brought from Watford to replace him when he left.
"I am back at Bradford and they signed someone and his contract says he has to play. Right now I am just training and playing reserves," Ricketts candidly told the Observer yesterday.
Loach, 19, is yet to make a senior appearance for Watford, but has had loan spells with Morecambe and Stafford.
Prior to his proposed move, Ricketts was clearly the number one choice, but now he will have to wait on an opportunity to get back between the sticks. But he remains optimistic.
"Maybe he gets injured and I play again, but right now I am just training and watching football," he noted.
However, Ricketts is not bitter at the Home Office's decision not to grant him a new work permit and is taking everything in stride.
Said Ricketts: "Based on the reasons I think it is a fair decision so I can't complain about it.
"I am very disappointed, but I spoke to my mom and she said everything happens for a reason," he added.
Ricketts has been at Bradford City since 2004, and if he represents Jamaica regularly and helps to improve the country's rankings on the world stage over the next few months, he could just be granted a work permit by the British Home Office in the summer, when his contract expires.
Transfer failure plunges Ricketts to reserves
Howard Walker, Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Ricketts. right now I am just training and playing reservesJamaica's goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts' collapsed move to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) has not only left the player devastated, but also demoted to reserve games at Bradford City.
Ricketts, 30, was on the verge of signing with League Championship outfit QPR last week when the deal fell through.
He had passed a medical, agreed personal terms and was waiting on a work permit from the British Home Office that was never granted based for three main reasons:
a) Jamaica's low FIFA world ranking which should average below 70 over the last two years;
b) His lack of international appearances for his country and;
c) He was not assured of being the starting goalkeeper at his new club.
Now he is back at Bradford City where his contract expires at the end of the season, and the veteran goalkeeper has been relegated in the pecking order to Scott Loach, who was brought from Watford to replace him when he left.
"I am back at Bradford and they signed someone and his contract says he has to play. Right now I am just training and playing reserves," Ricketts candidly told the Observer yesterday.
Loach, 19, is yet to make a senior appearance for Watford, but has had loan spells with Morecambe and Stafford.
Prior to his proposed move, Ricketts was clearly the number one choice, but now he will have to wait on an opportunity to get back between the sticks. But he remains optimistic.
"Maybe he gets injured and I play again, but right now I am just training and watching football," he noted.
However, Ricketts is not bitter at the Home Office's decision not to grant him a new work permit and is taking everything in stride.
Said Ricketts: "Based on the reasons I think it is a fair decision so I can't complain about it.
"I am very disappointed, but I spoke to my mom and she said everything happens for a reason," he added.
Ricketts has been at Bradford City since 2004, and if he represents Jamaica regularly and helps to improve the country's rankings on the world stage over the next few months, he could just be granted a work permit by the British Home Office in the summer, when his contract expires.
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