Trinidad and Tobago international Avery John will not be signing for Colchester United.
U's boss Steve Whitton was dealt the crushing early season blow today when he was told the 25-year-old left-sided player has been denied a work permit to play in this country.
Whitton said: "It appears that John has not made the number of international appearances that are necessary and that we were initially told.
"The fact that we at Colchester don't offer long contracts or pay big money was also a factor in the player not coming.
"And we have been advised not to pursue the matter further because we stand little chance of winning."
Football League spokesman John Nagle said: "The criteria for granting work permits is a player must have played something like 50 to 75 per cent of his country's recent internationals."
The U's boss said: "The decision has come as a big blow to my plans."
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Published Wednesday August 21, 2002
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