Collin Samuel on way out at Tannadice.
By: Graeme Dey (The Courier).
Dundee United and their Trinidad and Tobago internationalist attacker Collin Samuel are to part company after Saturday’s concluding fixture against Motherwell.
That follows Samuel’s agent being advised that any new contract that was offered him would be considerably less lucrative than the one which expires in the next few weeks.
“I don’t believe Collin has been consistent enough to warrant being offered the same terms as he is on currently,’’ revealed manager Craig Levein.
“I would have kept him on at a reduced salary, and I spoke to his agent over the weekend, but the upshot is he’ll be leaving.”
Meanwhile, the Toronto Sun reported that Toronto FC finally won on the pitch in its inaugural Major League Soccer season but suffered a loss at the hands of Canada Customs and Immigration officials.
Two days after Toronto beat Chicago, coach Mo Johnston yesterday was set to announce the signing of Dundee United star Collin Samuel. But the 25-year-old striker was denied entry to Canada.
It was the third time immigration officials have thrown an obstacle at Johnston.
Previous TFC players who had to detour around road blocks at immigration were Abbe Ibrahim, from the West Africa nation of Togo and Danny Dichio, of England.
Both eventually were allowed to play, but for Samuel -- a native of Trinidad and Tobago -- it marked the end of his quest to don the red shirt for TFC.
"We had the blessing of his club (Dundee United) and he was looking forward to playing here," Johnston said. "I'm really disappointed that immigration won't let another player in."
Johnston said he could not explain why Canadian immigration officials have taken such a hard stand in this case.
"He was just denied entry, which I don't understand," Johnston said.
"He's married to a British girl. Aren't we all supposed to be part of the Commonwealth? I could have got him into America easier."
Now Johnston must wait and watch while Samuel most likely will take his offensive skills -- he was Dundee United's leading scorer last season -- to another MLS club.
"There are six or seven (MLS) teams after him, but we were first on board," Johnston said. "We invited him here to see the game (against Houston Dynamo tomorrow at BMO Field) to see the atmosphere. It would have been an ideal situation."
“Collin had been asked over to Toronto to check out the club and see what the MLS has to offer,” confirmed the player’s agent Raymond Sparkes.
“I know Mo well and he has been raving about his team and the set-up there.
“They want to have Collin on board, although he was going there initially to have a look rather than sign.
“He has a Trinidad and Tobago passport but, having been resident in the United Kingdom for five years, we did not think he would need a full-blown visa for the visit.
“We just did not have enough time to apply for that so the result was that he could not fly out.
“I know Toronto FC are completely disappointed about that but I still believe Mo is keen to follow through with his interest.
“Collin will go back to Trinidad as soon as the season finishes then we’ll see what happens after that,” added Sparkes, who intimated there is also interest in Samuel from Scotland and England.
