Kane Ferdinand: A day after the good news, the opposite for the Shrimpers
What a difference a day makes!
24 hours after signing his first pro contract with the Shrimpers, influential youngster Kane Ferdinand will be sunning himself in Cyprus with the Republic of Ireland Under-19 squad, not with his club mates in wet 7 windy, oh OK, cloudy and cold, Stockport for a very important League Two match for both sides at different ends of the table.
FIFA insists international call-up's take preference over club football unless the FA involved will allow the player clearance, and the Irish FA in this case have turned the Shrimpers request down.
Blues boss Paul Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "We're obviously disappointed to be without Kane for Saturday. Since coming back from injury he has done well so it's obviously a blow to be without him. When a Football Association requests you release a player you don't have much say in the matter but we were heopeful they could see the benefits of young Kane playing first team football."
Fair point, but sadly the Irish just didn't see it that way, and after beating the English at rugby and cricket as well, you'd think they would see they owed us a favour!
Teen Kane signs on the dotted line:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/
ferdy_signs_pro_deal_for_shrimpers_there_were_other_sides_
interested_in_securing_him_next_season_660160/index.shtml