By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
IT MAY be a while before national goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts returns to his Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) club, Village United if at all.
The giant former Cornwall College and University of the West Indies Mona student has been attracting lots of interest from English clubs including some in the Premier League.
Ricketts, who was outstanding in Jamaica's past two friendly internationals against Australia and Brazil played in England, has been on trial with several clubs including Nationwide Division Two outfit Rushden and Diamonds, the club of his national teammates Onandi Lowe and Paul Hall.
Village United's coach, Lloyd Williams, said the club has learnt from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) that at least five other clubs have shown interest and had contacted the local governing body to get permission to have him attend trials.
Ricketts, who has also represented Violet Kickers, Wadadah and Seba United in the NPL, has been on previous trials with English clubs but just failed to secure contracts.
On the most recent occasion he was denied a work permit by the British Home Office despite the intervention of a local Member of Parliament, as he had not fulfilled the national team appearances requirement, falling short by just two games.
All overseas players must have played in at least 75 per cent of their national team games over the preceding two years to be eligible for a work permit in Britain.
This should not be a problem for Ricketts this time, however, as he has established himself as the number one goalkeeper, replacing Aaron Lawrence who had taken over after Jamaica had lost to Honduras in a World Cup qualifying game.
Ricketts had admitted in an interview with a local radio station, following the game that was played in Tegucigalpa that he had lost some confidence in going for crosses.
