Whitmore's agent clears the air By Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
PHIL GRAHAM, agent of national midfielder Theodore Whitmore, yesterday circulated a press release in an effort to "quash rumours that the player has been released from his contract at Hull City". It was reported on Hull City's web page on the Teamtalk website yesterday that the some times magical midfielder was included in a group of five players to be released or given free transfers. "Hull have announced the shock immediate release on free transfers of Gary Brabin, Lee Bracey, John Eyre, Jason Harris and Theodore Whitmore," read a part of the Teamtalk report. "The club have today revealed that each of the five are now free to find clubs, as the players have one year left on their respective contracts and have been some of the club's highest earners," it continued. Graham in his release said: "Theodore has one year left on his contract which Hull City must honour by league rules. I contacted Brian Little, the manager of Hull City, today and he confirmed the following to me: Theodore has not been released from his contract - he signed a three-year contract when he came here and has one more year to run. "However, I must cut cost at this football club and would consider releasing Theodore if the right club for him came along. He earns too much money for a Third Division club and would easily fit into a club in a higher division." The quote which Graham attributes to Little is consistent with what he said in yesterday's story which was also carried in the local media. "The most important thing is to take this side forward and we need to be a force in the Third Division next season. "It's my judgement that we have to get better players at the club and anyone who (wants to be) critical, can do so in 12 or 24 nonths if we fail". The placement of Whitmore and the other four on free transfers follows the release of seven out-of-contract players at the end of the season. Of those set to be released with Whitmore, Brabin and Eyre were big crowd favourites, while Whitmore had been rated near to one million pounds only a matter of months ago. For Whitmore, his present situation can be likened from one from falling from hero status to that of zero in a matter of months. Just recently, Whitmore, who is fondly called Theo at the club, enjoyed hero status which prompted the club to slap the one million pound price tag on to him.
Signs of a falling out with the club became apparent when he failed to return to the club in February after the accident which claimed the life of his national teammate, Steve Malcolm. Then the club was under the impression Whitmore was physically injured and mentally unready to play for them, only to see him play for Jamaica against Trinidad and Tobago on February 28 in a World Cup qualifier.
Hull City expressed dismay and demanded his immediate return. Subsequent to that the former club darling found himself rotting on the bench as the club prospered without his input. Whitmore's position with the club became clearer last month when the club released him to participate in the Copa Caribe while keeping defender Ian Goodison as the club competed in the promotions playoff.
It was a complete turnaround for the two players as while Whitmore revelled in the attention at Hull, Goodison looked on hopefully from the bench and enjoyed minutes towards the end of games. The turnaround was completed with Goodison being named Hull City's player of the year for the 2000/2001 season while Whitmore did not even finish in the top three on the voters' list.
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