FOOTBALL:- Jermaine Johnson signs with Bolton Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter NATIONAL midfielder Jermaine Johnson is set to join his Jamaican counterpart, Ricardo Gardner at Bolton Wanderers in the English Premiership. A release issued by Johnson's local club, Tivoli Gardens yesterday, stated that the 21-year-old midfielder has been contracted to Bolton Wanderers who earned promotion from the First Division to the Premiership at the end of last season. Johnson has been with the club for the past two weeks and reports were posted on the club's web site stating that manager Sam Allardyce was impressed with the player. They however said that Johnson was not expected to be signed before the season starts today. "I think he will do well. He has adapted well and his signing will serve as a motivator for the other players at Tivoli Gardens," said Edward Seaga, president of the Tivoli Gardens FC. "Ricardo Gardner is there and that should be good for him because he will explain to him what is expected of him as a professional," he continued. Seaga who is also leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) said that the club does not think that Johnson is quite ready yet for the Premier League but has the material to work with. Asked if the player who was valued at one million pounds by Tivoli Gardens was undersold, Seaga chuckled before responding: "You know you are not going to get that out of me. All I can say is that we are not unhappy." A check with Johnson's agent Phil Graham confirmed that the player was indeed signed by the Premiership outfit but he too would not disclose the transfer fee. He instead stated that the only thing left to be completed was the player's medical and that the details of the contract will be revealed when he arrives in Jamaica for the country's World Cup qualifier against Mexico on September 2. Johnson becomes the second major signing from the country since Jamaica qualified for the World Cup in 1998. Immediately after the World Cup Gardner was snapped up by Bolton as a 19-year-old for one million pounds. Since that time Walter Boyd, Ian Goodison and Theodore Whitmore signed with Third Division clubs on free transfers. There were also subsequent trials by a number of other players who all failed to be picked up. Johnson himself had a trial with Premiership club Ipswich last season but was unsuccessful. If Johnson passes his medical and makes his Premiership debut this season, he will become the second fully home-grown Jamaican to do so, following Gardner who is set to start today against Leicester City. "I am happy for him. I always knew that Jermaine was a talented player. He is top of the shelf and has all the tools it takes to succeed," said Carlton "Spanner" Dennis who guided Johnson from the age of 12 to 19 at Santos FC and still serves as mentor to him. "The problem with Jermaine is that he does not know how good he is and once he realises that and works as hard as he should then he will succeed. With the national programme I think he was satisfied with a 10-minute stint but overall I think he will be a success," added Dennis about the player who along with his dribbling skills, possesses an excellent change of pace, aggression and a good shot.
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