Jack signs up with Gillingham.
By: Shaun Fuentes.
National team goalkeeper Kelvin Jack has become the first player to sign a new contract following this country’s appearance at the 2006 World Cup Finals.
Jack put pen to paper on Monday as he agreed to a new two-year deal with English League One club Gillingham where he will now join Soca Warriors teammates Brent Sancho and Ian Cox.
The 30-year-old former CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh ‘keeper was a free agent after seeing out his contract with Scottish club Dundee before the Germany experience and is now looking forward to playing on English soil.
“I’m delighted to have signed this deal with Gillingham,” Jack told TTFF Media on Monday. “Their ambitions interest me a lot and they want to get straight back into the Championship Division where they rightly belong and I am really looking forward to being part of that drive to help them realize this ambition.”
Jack had been weighing up other offers even before he appeared in T&T’s final match against Paraguay before deciding to sign up.
“There were some other clubs who showed interest but Gillingham came up with a concrete and decent offer and I felt I could go that direction especially as they showed a willingness to commit. And now of course being able to join Brent and Coxy is also a chance for us to form a formidable barrier and help the club push for promotion,” Jack added.
He is expected to go right into being the number one at Gillingham following the departures of Jason Brown and Paul Crichton. Among the other T&T players likely to be weighing up new offers include Carlos Edwards, Brent Sancho, Chris Birchall, Aurtis Whitley, Shaka Hislop and Dwight Yorke among others.
Jack gets permit... off to Gillingham.
By: Shaun Fuentes.[/size]
Goalkeper Kelvin Jack obtained his work permit to complete his transfer to English club Gillingham and will depart this country on Monday to join his new club in the English League One.
Jack made the move from Scottish side Dundee to Gillingham on a two-year deal earlier this month but still had to go through the procedures to have his permit renewed and was given the all clear on Friday. He will link up with T&T teammates Brent Sancho and Ian Cox who have already begun preseason training with their teammates following their appearance at the World Cup Finals.
“It’s always something to get off your back when you have to get permit renewed because it’s no secret that I missed some matches at Dundee with injury but having gotten the permit I can no move over to Gillingham with a clear mind and get down to the business of preparing for the new season,” Jack told TTFF Media.
“I think it’s a positive step for me and I will be looking to go there and make an impression and hold on to the number one spot.”
The former CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh custodian also felt there was a form of positive coming out of T&T’s World Cup with the appointment of Wim Rijsbergen showing an attempt at continuity in the development of the team and the country’s football at large.
“We were disappointed after our last result but now we go into the future with some positives. We have shown that we can improve and that’s how we have to set about it now,” he said.
He also reflected on his calf injury which forced him out of the Sweden and England matches but made mention of his gratitude to Leo Beenhakker who have him the number one shirt for his first World Cup qualifier in charge of T&T in a 2-0 win over Panama in June, 2005 and subsequently the last match of the campaign versus Paraguay.
“I had a calf problem even though I was desperate to play. Shaka stepped in and did well. I wasn’t sure I was going to play because Shaka didn’t do much wrong but on the other hand I didn’t do much wrong as well. I was thankful to the coach that he showed a lot of faith in me and I hope I can go on with this experience and continue to be an asset to our team,” Jack added. T&T’s two other goalies Shaka Hislop and Clayton Ince also made moves following the World Cup to Dallas FC and Walsall respectively.
Falkirk says Theobald not for sale.
An unnamed Austrian First Division club have made enquiries into midfielder Densill Theobald but have been told by Falkirk FC that he is unavailable and is a strong part of manager John Hughes’ plans for the upcoming 2006/2007 season.
Theobald is still at home and has been advised by T&T team doctor Terrence Babwah to rest a troubled knee for an extra two weeks. He has since been given the extra time off by Falkirk. Theobald fought off the knee problems during the World Cup but has since been advised to rest it before going into further serious action.
“I went through the World Cup fine with it but now I have been advise to rest it a bit and the club has allowed me some time off before the new season starts,” Theobald said. “It is true that a club was interested because they contacted me but they were also told by Falkirk that I am not for sale. I’m simply looking forward to making a stronger claim at the club for the new Scottish season,” he added.
