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Transfer foul-up
St George's question striker's move to Portmore
by Livingston Scott Observer staff reporter
Friday, August 07, 2009
ST George's Sports Club are upset over what they claim is the illegitimate transfer of their top striker Damion Harwood to former Premier League champions Portmore United.
HARWOOD... allegedly transferred to Portmore United from St George's
Felix Gordon, chief administrative officer for the Portland club, said Portmore United had requested Harwood to train with them over a month ago, but nothing about a transfer has since been communicated to St George's.
Gordon said he was surprised to learn through a newspaper report that Harwood had allegedly signed with the St Catherine-based club, but maintains that since the proper procedure had obviously not been followed, Harwood remains a St George's player.
"I went to register my team and Damion Harwood's name was on my registration... I was informed that I couldn't have him on my registration because he's already on the Portmore United registration," Gordon told the Observer yesterday.
"But I know my rights," Gordon insisted, "so I don't pay much attention to it because I know the procedure to register a player."
Gordon, however, conceded that he knew that Portmore were interested in the striker and were "having a look at him".
"Portmore sought our permission for Damion Harwood to train with their team. He was training with them until yesterday (Wednesday) when we saw it in the Observer, where they said Damion signed with Portmore.
"But I'm the only person who signs those transfer certificates and I didn't sign any for Damion, plus there was none signed out of the parish either. They (Portmore) didn't ask for any transfer and I didn't see any transfer certificate for him," Gordon pointed out.
He explained that once no transfer certificate or parish transfer was made, such a transfer would be illegitimate.
"I think they (Portmore) need the player because they carried him with them to Norway and they didn't seek any clearance from us to have him.
"... As far as I know, the player is still a St George's player because no transfer was done and none can be done without signing out of the parish," he emphasised.
Gordon insisted that losing Harwood was not a problem; however, St George's wanted the deal to be properly executed and an appropriate compensation received for their top striker.
"I remain calm because somebody else has erred... the problem we have is that the release was made and it stated that the player was signed to Portmore, which is not so.
"We don't have to do anything because it's Portmore who has the problem. They carried him to Norway, which means they have started investing in him.
"So now it's up to them if they're going to request a transfer for him so he can be legitimately registered, because somebody acted prematurely and he cannot play for any other club until all the paperworks are sorted out," he added.
Meanwhile, Portmore's general manager Trevin Nairne said there was some miscommunication between the clubs on the transfer of Harwood, which has led to the current scenario.
However, he was confident that the matter will be dealt with amicably within the next few days.
"There seems to be some miscommunication about some things so we don't want to comment on it just yet because we need to check where the miscommunication was made," Nairne told the Observer yesterday.
"But we need to have a discussion with the head of St George's because clearly some communication went awry and hopefully it will be dealt with in the next few days," he reiterated.
St George's question striker's move to Portmore
by Livingston Scott Observer staff reporter
Friday, August 07, 2009
ST George's Sports Club are upset over what they claim is the illegitimate transfer of their top striker Damion Harwood to former Premier League champions Portmore United.
HARWOOD... allegedly transferred to Portmore United from St George's
Felix Gordon, chief administrative officer for the Portland club, said Portmore United had requested Harwood to train with them over a month ago, but nothing about a transfer has since been communicated to St George's.
Gordon said he was surprised to learn through a newspaper report that Harwood had allegedly signed with the St Catherine-based club, but maintains that since the proper procedure had obviously not been followed, Harwood remains a St George's player.
"I went to register my team and Damion Harwood's name was on my registration... I was informed that I couldn't have him on my registration because he's already on the Portmore United registration," Gordon told the Observer yesterday.
"But I know my rights," Gordon insisted, "so I don't pay much attention to it because I know the procedure to register a player."
Gordon, however, conceded that he knew that Portmore were interested in the striker and were "having a look at him".
"Portmore sought our permission for Damion Harwood to train with their team. He was training with them until yesterday (Wednesday) when we saw it in the Observer, where they said Damion signed with Portmore.
"But I'm the only person who signs those transfer certificates and I didn't sign any for Damion, plus there was none signed out of the parish either. They (Portmore) didn't ask for any transfer and I didn't see any transfer certificate for him," Gordon pointed out.
He explained that once no transfer certificate or parish transfer was made, such a transfer would be illegitimate.
"I think they (Portmore) need the player because they carried him with them to Norway and they didn't seek any clearance from us to have him.
"... As far as I know, the player is still a St George's player because no transfer was done and none can be done without signing out of the parish," he emphasised.
Gordon insisted that losing Harwood was not a problem; however, St George's wanted the deal to be properly executed and an appropriate compensation received for their top striker.
"I remain calm because somebody else has erred... the problem we have is that the release was made and it stated that the player was signed to Portmore, which is not so.
"We don't have to do anything because it's Portmore who has the problem. They carried him to Norway, which means they have started investing in him.
"So now it's up to them if they're going to request a transfer for him so he can be legitimately registered, because somebody acted prematurely and he cannot play for any other club until all the paperworks are sorted out," he added.
Meanwhile, Portmore's general manager Trevin Nairne said there was some miscommunication between the clubs on the transfer of Harwood, which has led to the current scenario.
However, he was confident that the matter will be dealt with amicably within the next few days.
"There seems to be some miscommunication about some things so we don't want to comment on it just yet because we need to check where the miscommunication was made," Nairne told the Observer yesterday.
"But we need to have a discussion with the head of St George's because clearly some communication went awry and hopefully it will be dealt with in the next few days," he reiterated.
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