Chorley FC aim to tackle Mali player's visa hitch

8:20am Wednesday 27th August 2008

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Officials at Chorley FC are hoping that red tape will not stop them signing a Mali-born player.

Seydou Bamba, 21, who has played for Atherton Collieries and most recently Squires Gate, is in the UK on a student visa which means that he cannot play competitive football in front of paying customers.

He also holds a national insurance number in the UK but now needs a work permit to satisfy the Unibond League, in which Chorley play in the first division.

Manager Tony Hesketh hopes that the process of getting a permit will be a short one so that the student can make his Magpies’ debut soon.

He said: “It is a frustrating situation for us and the player because Seydou is someone who we think can do a job for us and he is someone who wants to play for the club.

“We first applied for his registration with the league about 10 days ago but we were told that his visa – despite having a condition on there that states he can do up to 16 hours work per week – was not satisfactory and that he would need a work permit.

“We have since been advised by the Football Association to go to the Home Office and my assistant Phil Brown has spent a lot of time on the phone over the last few days trying to sort this out.”

Despite attempts to sort the paperwork out, the club have still not heard from the Home Office and fear that the delay could put an end to Bamba’s dream of playing for the Magpies.

Mr Hesketh added: “We want to do things properly at this football club and all we ask for is someone to explain to us what we need to do in order to ensure that Seydou can play for us.

“We are not banging a big drum about it at the moment but it is very frustrating for all concerned.”

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle said that he would take the matter up on behalf of the club immediately.