Spann makes the shift to Wrexham.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).Trinidad and Tobago midfielder, now famous for his spectacular free kick goal at the CONCACAF Gold Cup against El Salvador is set to join the professional ranks in England.
Spann agreed to sign a three-year deal at English league Two club Wrexham and is awaiting international clearance before beginning his tenure with the club which kick-started the overseas careers of Dennis Lawrence, Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam.
And Spann, formerly of St Benedict’s College trained on Monday alongside T&T winger Josh Johnson who is also at Wrexham.
“It’s a dream come true to actually get a contract to play in England. The road has not been an easy one but by the grace of God and hard work and belief something has worked out for me. I’m happy to have signed this deal” Spann told TTFF Media on Monday. The deal is a three-year one.
The player, whose contract with T&T Pro League giants W Connections runs out at year end, said Wrexham boss Brian Carey saw him in T&T’s 2-0 win over Iceland at Loftus Road last year February and has been interested since then. And after interest from Sheffield United and Sunderland disappeared, Wrexham appeared eager to sign Spann.
A hamstring injury put him out of T&T’s 2006 World Cup squad and then a shoulder problem forced him to miss the 2007 Digicel Caribbean Cup but Spann is more than likely to get the permit. The same could not be said for goalie Jan-Michael Williams after his appeal was turned down after his trial at Sheffield.
“It’s a bit unfortunate for Jan but I’m hopeful something will work out. My first session at Wrexham was a good feeling for me and I’m already feeling at home now. Carlos and Dennis plus Hector have left a good mark of our country at this club and hopefully I can continue that now,” Spann added.
Meantime, defender Brent Sancho is likely to sign a new deal this week with Brentford at the top of the list. Southampton and Leyton Orient are also still in talks over possible deals.
“It looks likely that something will come good this week and I’m waiting to see what the actual result will be. I’m hoping to get something because I want to get back out on the playing field as quickly as possible,” Sancho added.
Silvio not giving up on Wrexham dream.
By: Rob Griffiths (Daily Post).Trinidadian Silvio Spann is relishing a possible move to Wrexham as he hopes to embark on a new stage of his career. Spann, 25, has already plied his trade in Japan, Italy and Croatia, but admits a move to the English league would be a dream come true.
But there is still work to be done to make his dream a reality, with the Dragons still waiting for international clearance and a work permit for the player. On top of that Brian Carey’s side must come to an arrangement with the midfielder’s Trinidadian club, W Connection.
Not that Spann is letting these minor points detract him from what he believes he can achieve with the Dragons.
"I’m really excited at the moment of coming to Wrexham, but I still have to wait for the clearance to come through," he said yesterday.
"After training with the lads and seeing them and being with them for the last three days I really love the guys and the welcome they have given me.
"And also there’s another Trinidadian here as well, so it’s brilliant."
And midfielder Spann admitted he had taken some words of advice from fellow Trinidadian’s and ex-Wrexham favourites Carlos Edwards and Dennis Lawrence.
He added: "Obviously they’re going to have a part to play in this. They are at heart are still Wrexham players and they have had a word with me, especially Dennis. He told me he thinks I should give it a go.
"I considered it with my wife and we decided I should take my chances at Wrexham. At the moment it looks a good decision for me, for her as well and hopefully for Wrexham too."
Spann was an interested spectator last Saturday as the Dragons opened their League Two campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Darlington.
But the player that boss Carey has been tracking for a number of months believes there are brighter days ahead.
"Sometimes a score does not really reflect the true outcome of the game," he said.
"Wrexham should have won the game on the number of chances they created.
"I thought they looked very disciplined and very solid at the back and it’s just a case of giving a little bit extra and taking our chances. We will get there once we are a little bit more organised and I can come in and give my bit and help the team."
Spann will now travel home to Trinidad and try to finalise his move from his club to Wrexham as soon as possible.
"I have to say W Connection are the best team in the whole of the Caribbean," he added. "It’s only been together for only nine years and I have had a very good five years with the club, because I have travelled across the world playing football.
"But I want a move to Britain, because that’s where it all happens.
"Any kid growing up wants and dreams of playing football in Britain, and I just want to start as soon as I can."
And boss Carey is also hoping the paperwork can go through sooner rather than later.
"These things can have a habit of dragging on for some time," he conceded. "But he will be a very useful acquisition for us. "But he is not our player quite yet."
Carey will be without Mark Jones and possibly Eifion Williams for tonight’s Carling Cup first round match at Port Vale.
Steve Evans and Conall Murtagh will both come into the squad, while Josh Johnson and Michael Carvill travel..
And Carey is hoping his side can kick start their season tonight against local rivals Port Vale of League One.
"Cup runs are fantastic," he said. "Last season we had a good run in this competition. We had a great result at Sheffield Wednesday and put in a great performance at Birmingham and it would be nice to have another good run this season.
"Martin Foyle is doing a great job at Port Vale with what he has to work with, but this is an opportunity to pit ourselves against a side from a higher division, and see exactly where we are."
Carey’s opposite number Foyle is also under pressure to have a good run in the cup and could name two ex-Wrexham players in tonight’s line up in Mark McGregor and Paul Edwards.
Clubs agreed transfer deal for Silvio.
By: wrexhamafc.premiumtv.co.uk.The club is pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement with Silvio Spann's club in Trinidad - Vibe CT 105 W Connection - concerning the player's possible transfer to Wrexham. With this news, a work permit application has now been lodged on Silvio's behalf with the Home Office and we await their verdict in the near future.
One of the requirements is that the player has taken part in 75% of his country's competitive internationals over the last two years. An allowance is made if he can't take part due to injury, which in Silvio's case covers three games at the World Cup Finals in Germany and five matches in the Digicel Caribbean Cup last January.
In he first instance he pulled a hamstring on the eve of Germany 2006 and then required a shoulder operation at Christmas, which meant missing the Caribbean Cup.
The TTFF have forwarded on a letter from their Team Doctor explaining Silvio's injuries and why he was unable to play. Of the other 10 games, he played in nine and was suspended for the tenth.
If they Home Office feel that an appeal is necessary, then his application would be referred to a Review Panel. The club obviously hopes that is not necessary and that the application will be strong enough in the first instance. If and when a work permit is granted, then we will push on with the normal procedure of gaining his international clearance and registering him with The Football League.
Silvio Spann can help Josh Johnson shine.
By: Gareth Bicknell (Daily Post).The imminent arrival of Silvio Spann at Wrexham can help fellow Trinidadian Josh Johnson finally fulfil his potential. That’s the verdict of first-team coach Steve Weaver, who said versatile midfielder Spann would be a “great acquisition” for the Dragons as they bid for promotion from League Two this season.
Wrexham yesterday cleared another hurdle in their bid to bring the Trinidad international to the Racecourse, agreeing a settlement with Spann’s homeland club W Connection for the remainder of his contract.
Spann has already agreed terms with the Dragons, who are now waiting on a work permit and international clearance before the deal can be completed.
While Weaver is looking forward to the midfielder’s arrival, he was also impressed by the contribution of Spann’s compatriot Johnson in Tuesday’s Carling Cup win at Port Vale.
Johnson came on as a substitute for goalscorer Michael Proctor and Weaver said: “I wouldn’t have thought Port Vale will have known much about Josh before Tuesday, but he’s a very talented player.”
He admitted Johnson has struggled to adjust to life in League Two since joining the Dragons last summer, but said this season he expected to see more of the winger’s ability shining through this season.
“He’s quite a shy guy and he’s a long way from home, and he’s just found it very difficult,” Weaver added. “It’s not that easy – Trinidad’s a completely different place to North Wales – and he’s probably much better adjusted now than he was 12 months ago.
“But he’s got a lot of ability.
“He’s got pace and he can finish, and this year it really is time for him to push on. He can be a real handful for anyone and he could be anything he wants to be.
“It’s a lot for a young lad from Trinidad to come and be expected to take everything by storm.
“But Silvio will be someone for Josh to talk to, someone to relate to and be friends with, so I think they can help each other.
“Josh is quite introverted – he must be the most introverted of all the Trinidadians we’ve had here – whereas Silvio’s a cheeky chappie.
“He’s bubbly, he’s bright and when you’re in his company he brings the best out in you so I’m sure Josh will benefit from that.”
Weaver said Spann has the quality to aid a possible promotion push for Wrexham this season, adding: “The situation is we want to sign players from now on who are ambitious and want to push on in their careers.
“I’m sure Silvio will be looking at us as a stepping stone for his career, whether he wants to stay and spend a few years with us or he wants to eventually move on to a higher level. “That’s how we want all our players to think. It might take him a little bit of time to adjust but I think he’s going to be a great acquisition for us.”
Weaver also praised the work put in by Dragons boss Brian Carey and club co-owner Geoff Moss behind the scenes in persuading Spann to agree terms.
“Brian and Geoff have worked extremely hard on this and they’ve never taken no for an answer,” Weaver said. “Dennis Lawrence is quite close to Silvio and he said to him he was better off going to Wrexham – a club that will help him develop – rather than to a club where he’s going to be stuck in the reserves for a while.”
