Kone’s played 14 matches for Athletic Newham this season scoring 19 goals and getting 7 assists.
Would be fascinating to understand quite what the deal is with him. Even if Wycombe felt he wasn’t good for LG1 you’d have thought someone in the National League or NL South might have signed him by now given his extraordinary figures over the last few seasons.
Sam Grace was very honest about our position and his. Basically we are interested, he's sure other clubs will be too, we are in touch, if circumstances change or get resolved then maybe he will be able to join a professional football club.
I wondered if we had invited him to train with us during this period or if we had to keep a professional distance?
He's unable to get whatever legal clearance you need from the government to play professional football. It's the reason ColU didn't sign him after a successful trial there a couple of years ago.
No. But I think they were suggested as being out of anyone's hands. Probably safe to say it will be to do with his status in the country and the complexities around that.
Intriguing, as the rules did change in the summer to allow clubs to sign (a certain number of) players from anywhere in the world without the need for a work permit.
League One players can sign up to two according to this.
So you’d have to think it was something even more complex than just the need for a work permit (assuming of course we did or do wish to actually sign him).
Yes you’d certainly have thought so. Maybe there’s an asylum claim there that needs to be resolved first, even though there’s nothing (seemingly) in football’s rules to prevent him joining.
An interesting case. If he does eventually sign it’ll be fascinating to hear what the issues were.
Yeah, fairly typical, think it's clear that in order to look tough on immigration they like to be seen to make these things slow and difficult, in reality the slow processing leaves many in a bad position and causes additional problems.
It's not much different to them posturing about being tough on crime by increasing sentences but doing little or nothing about shortages in the police, legal or prison systems.
“Those who claim asylum in the UK are not normally allowed to work whilst their claim is being considered. They are instead provided with accommodation and support to meet their essential living needs if they would otherwise be destitute. The policy outlining when permission to work will be granted to those who claim asylum is set out in the Immigration Rules. This makes clear that the Home Office may grant permission to work to asylum seekers whose claim has been outstanding for more than 12 months through no fault of their own. Under this policy, those who are allowed to work are restricted to jobs on the shortage occupation list published by the Home Office.”
I would hazard a guess that lower league centre forward isn’t on the ‘shortage occupation list’. Maybe we need to show them our injury list, they might take a different view then.
Threatening to sue a Government department, in this case the Home Office, is not a good idea. Several years ago, I threatened to launch a Judicial Review of the DVLA's policy of selling registered keeper details to private parking companies, in breach of what was then the Data Protection Act 2018 (now GDPR). They got the Government Legal Department involved, who threatened to come after me for their £40k legal costs if unsuccessful,
One way round it would be to offer a job, from the reserved occupations list, to a friend or relative of his, and he plays for us as an amateur, and makes a private arrangement with whoever we are paying.
Comments
It wouldn't be the Gasroom if we weren't pinning our hopes on a forward from the lower reaches of the pyramid.
Kone’s played 14 matches for Athletic Newham this season scoring 19 goals and getting 7 assists.
Would be fascinating to understand quite what the deal is with him. Even if Wycombe felt he wasn’t good for LG1 you’d have thought someone in the National League or NL South might have signed him by now given his extraordinary figures over the last few seasons.
I think the issue is getting a work permit
Matt it’s time to get your BIC out.
Sam Grace was very honest about our position and his. Basically we are interested, he's sure other clubs will be too, we are in touch, if circumstances change or get resolved then maybe he will be able to join a professional football club.
I wondered if we had invited him to train with us during this period or if we had to keep a professional distance?
Did he explain what the circumstances were though?
He's unable to get whatever legal clearance you need from the government to play professional football. It's the reason ColU didn't sign him after a successful trial there a couple of years ago.
No. But I think they were suggested as being out of anyone's hands. Probably safe to say it will be to do with his status in the country and the complexities around that.
Probably waiting months for the Home Office to consider his request, think that is pretty standard.
Recalling Bloomfield to be our manager and nicking Kone from under their noses might make the Colchester 'rivalry' real again.
Fingers crossed.
Intriguing, as the rules did change in the summer to allow clubs to sign (a certain number of) players from anywhere in the world without the need for a work permit.
League One players can sign up to two according to this.
https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/new-rules-allow-english-clubs-sign-players-who-do-not-meet-work-permit-2023-06-14/
So you’d have to think it was something even more complex than just the need for a work permit (assuming of course we did or do wish to actually sign him).
He's also a refugee, which makes his settled status a lot more complicated.
Yes you’d certainly have thought so. Maybe there’s an asylum claim there that needs to be resolved first, even though there’s nothing (seemingly) in football’s rules to prevent him joining.
An interesting case. If he does eventually sign it’ll be fascinating to hear what the issues were.
I've looked into hiring asylum seekers before and the bureaucracy is quite a thing. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/handling-applications-for-permission-to-take-employment-instruction/permission-to-work-and-volunteering-for-asylum-seekers-accessible
Yeah, fairly typical, think it's clear that in order to look tough on immigration they like to be seen to make these things slow and difficult, in reality the slow processing leaves many in a bad position and causes additional problems.
It's not much different to them posturing about being tough on crime by increasing sentences but doing little or nothing about shortages in the police, legal or prison systems.
Asylum is a lifestyle choice.
Yes this bit might be the explanation….
“Those who claim asylum in the UK are not normally allowed to work whilst their claim is being considered. They are instead provided with accommodation and support to meet their essential living needs if they would otherwise be destitute. The policy outlining when permission to work will be granted to those who claim asylum is set out in the Immigration Rules. This makes clear that the Home Office may grant permission to work to asylum seekers whose claim has been outstanding for more than 12 months through no fault of their own. Under this policy, those who are allowed to work are restricted to jobs on the shortage occupation list published by the Home Office.”
I would hazard a guess that lower league centre forward isn’t on the ‘shortage occupation list’. Maybe we need to show them our injury list, they might take a different view then.
We need to get @bargepole involved with this! He'll find a way around it OR threaten to sue
Thanks to the downvoters who recognised just how appalling Suella Braverman and her pronouncements are.
Oh, just think of the chant potential
"You'll Never Sign R Kone"
Threatening to sue a Government department, in this case the Home Office, is not a good idea. Several years ago, I threatened to launch a Judicial Review of the DVLA's policy of selling registered keeper details to private parking companies, in breach of what was then the Data Protection Act 2018 (now GDPR). They got the Government Legal Department involved, who threatened to come after me for their £40k legal costs if unsuccessful,
One way round it would be to offer a job, from the reserved occupations list, to a friend or relative of his, and he plays for us as an amateur, and makes a private arrangement with whoever we are paying.
I’m sure that would fool everyone.
So you "bottled" it!
According to the book I've recently read, PL and Championship clubs regularly get round the FFP rules by doing something similar. They employ a player's mum as a 'catering assistant' on £10k a week, so that the figure isn't counted as part of their wage bill: Unfit and Improper Persons: An Idiot’s Guide to Owning a Football Club FROM THE PRICE OF FOOTBALL PODCAST: Amazon.co.uk: Day, Kevin, Maguire, Kieran, Kilty, Guy: 9781399407540: Books
Yes, I looked down the back of the sofa, but all I could find was a chocolate coin left over from Christmas. Not £40k.
A very Rugby solution. It was pretty widespread when the Union clubs were still pretending to be amateur.
I think HMRC and the Home Office would take a pretty dim view of that approach but then arguably they generally do of most things.
Come over here. Take our goalscorers jobs. Grrrr
Dave Tarpey has had his contract cancelled at Leatherhead…
Can only mean one thing
🎶 CHAIRBOYS TARPEY ARMY 🎶