Nervous wait Rudolph awaits work permit after Portmore agree £1m transfer to Stoke City
By Howard Walker Observer staff reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Portmore United's Rudolph Austin looks all set to join English Premier League club Stoke City after both clubs agree on a fee worth approximately £1m.
AUSTIN. has all the attributes to become an excellent signing for the club says manager Tony Pulis
But just like last year, Austin, 22, will have to wait nervously on a work permit to join fellow Reggae Boyz Ricardo Fuller and Demar Phillips at the newly promoted club.
Howard McIntosh, a director at Portmore United, confirmed to the Observer that Austin passed his medical and the deal has been finalised, but the sticky issue of work permit will have to be solved.
Said McIntosh: "There is a deal that we have with Stoke and we are anxiously awaiting to see what happens in terms of his work permit situation."
He added: "That's the critical thing that we are all waiting to hear of. We have every confidence that it will be done. But we do have a deal and an excellent relationship with Stoke."
Reports emanating out of England suggest that a fee of just over £1m has been agreed on, but McIntosh refused to divulge any financial information at this time.
"Not commenting on the figure, but we hope it will be close to that. The deal is a multi-year deal," he said.
Tony Scholes, Stoke City's chief executive, told BBC Radio that the deal is completed and they are waiting on the work permit to bring Austin to the Britannia Stadium.
"It wasn't a straight forward negotiation with Portmore because we had some competition," Scholes told BBC Radio. "We've done the deal to sign him. We now need to get the work permit."
Last year the deal fell through after the British Home Office denied Austin a work permit because he did not have the required number of international experience games under his belt.
Meanwhile, Stoke City boss Tony Pulis in an earlier interview was full of praises for Austin, who he has been tracking for well over a year.
"Rudolph Austin has all the attributes to become an excellent signing for the club. He's got everything in his locker," Pulis told BBC Radio.
"Rudolph's happy playing anywhere. Full back, centre half, attacking midfield. The crucial thing is getting him here," he said.
Austin has now made the required number of appearances for Jamaica, but the Reggae Boyz have since dropped out of FIFA's top 70 ranking of international teams - another stipulation for a player to gain a UK work permit.
"I really like him. He's very quick, has got two good feet and he's good in the air. Rudolph is only a young lad and so if he does well then we will make sure that they (Portmore United) are rewarded."
Pulis also believes that the current Jamaicans at Stoke would help Austin settle at the club.
"He's got Ricardo (Fuller) and Demar (Phillips) here, so knowing those two you would think he will settle a bit quicker than most."
Rudolph awaits work permit after Portmore agree £1m transfer to Stoke City
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Portmore United's Rudolph Austin looks all set to join English Premier League club Stoke City after both clubs agree on a fee worth approximately £1m.
But just like last year, Austin, 22, will have to wait nervously on a work permit to join fellow Reggae Boyz Ricardo Fuller and Demar Phillips at the newly promoted club.
Howard McIntosh, a director at Portmore United, confirmed to the Observer that Austin passed his medical and the deal has been finalised, but the sticky issue of work permit will have to be solved.
Said McIntosh: "There is a deal that we have with Stoke and we are anxiously awaiting to see what happens in terms of his work permit situation."
He added: "That's the critical thing that we are all waiting to hear of. We have every confidence that it will be done. But we do have a deal and an excellent relationship with Stoke."
Reports emanating out of England suggest that a fee of just over £1m has been agreed on, but McIntosh refused to divulge any financial information at this time.
"Not commenting on the figure, but we hope it will be close to that. The deal is a multi-year deal," he said.
Tony Scholes, Stoke City's chief executive, told BBC Radio that the deal is completed and they are waiting on the work permit to bring Austin to the Britannia Stadium.
"It wasn't a straight forward negotiation with Portmore because we had some competition," Scholes told BBC Radio. "We've done the deal to sign him. We now need to get the work permit."
Last year the deal fell through after the British Home Office denied Austin a work permit because he did not have the required number of international experience games under his belt.
Meanwhile, Stoke City boss Tony Pulis in an earlier interview was full of praises for Austin, who he has been tracking for well over a year.
"Rudolph Austin has all the attributes to become an excellent signing for the club. He's got everything in his locker," Pulis told BBC Radio.
"Rudolph's happy playing anywhere. Full back, centre half, attacking midfield. The crucial thing is getting him here," he said.
Austin has now made the required number of appearances for Jamaica, but the Reggae Boyz have since dropped out of FIFA's top 70 ranking of international teams - another stipulation for a player to gain a UK work permit.
"I really like him. He's very quick, has got two good feet and he's good in the air. Rudolph is only a young lad and so if he does well then we will make sure that they (Portmore United) are rewarded."
Pulis also believes that the current Jamaicans at Stoke would help Austin settle at the club.
"He's got Ricardo (Fuller) and Demar (Phillips) here, so knowing those two you would think he will settle a bit quicker than most."