By Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
WEEKS OF uncertainty finally ended for Portmore United midfield Omar Daley yesterday.
The 22-year-old nailed down a one-year loan deal with English Division One club Reading. It was a surprise move as Daley spent the past two weeks on trial at rival club Stoke City and was not previously linked with Reading.
News of the former ValuP player's signing has since dominated Reading's web site, readingfc.co.uk, occupying all of four slots in its 'latest news' releases.
Reading's manager Alan Pardew, quoted by the club's web site, said he was delighted with the capture of the 22-year-old, who now awaits a work permit to fight for a first-team place.
Daley trained with Reading yesterday morning and the Jamaican's fancy footwork in midfield has completely blown Pardew over.
"He trained very, very well today and I have to say it was one of the best first days for a new player that I can remember," said the elated Royals coach.
The midfielder's signing, similar to most Jamaican internationals' move to England, was handled by player agent Phil Graham. In a press release, the agent said Daley was signed for a "small loan fee, which Reading does not wish to disclose".
Explaining the shift from Stoke to Reading, Graham yesterday evening told The Gleaner that Daley was initially aimed at the club but while they were waiting to make a decision Stoke invited him over to England on trial.
"They saw him play twice and were waiting to make a decision," he said. "Stoke called him over on trial but when they were ready to negotiate Reading expressed an interest to sign a deal," added the agent, who recently helped Daley's team-mate, Claude Davis, sign a deal at Preston North End, joining Ricardo Fuller, whose move to England was also handled by Graham.
Pardew, who made Daley his third new signing at Reading, admitted he's taking a gamble on Daley, who has so far played 21 games for Jamaica, scoring nine goals.
A BIT OF A GAMBLE
"We're taking a bit of a gamble on this one but it's an educated gamble," he told readingfc.co.uk. "We know a lot about him and he's a prospect. We obviously don't know what he's going to do in this division and in this country but he's got immense talent and a nice character."
The Reading manager is banking on the pacey midfielder's close-ball skills to help him settle in quickly.
"He can add something a bit special to the line-up," Pardew remarked. "He's got that technical ability to make things happen and obviously you need all the mental and physical attributes. We can help him here and if he's got those other attributes on top of his technical ability he might not be with us for long."
Daley's move to Reading brought almost two years of frustration to an end as he previously tried out with Premiership clubs Charlton Athletic and Everton. He also visited Leeds United.
Meanwhile, Portmore United manager Clive Marshall, whose squad in just a few weeks has lost two of its most influential players, strongman defender Davis and crafty midfielder Daley, said the local Premier League champions will miss their stars for the upcoming season but can cope.
"Omar and Claude are two valuable players, who were involved with the success of the club for the past two seasons," Marshall said.
"They will be greatly missed but we also have to look at the positive side," he added. "They really deserve international contracts with all the work they've put in."
