Reports that Lacina Traore has walked out on West Ham United and is on his way to sign for Everton will leave huge questions for Upton Park officials to answer if it’s true.
For under Home Office regulations it is impossible for the player or Everton to conduct his business in such a way so long as West Ham have observed all the Government department’s rules.
Sean Whetstone an expert on legal and financial matters and a publicity advisor on the Hammers Supporters Advisory Board told Claretandhugh how things work.
He explained the Hammers would have named themselves as the player’s sponsor into the UK and pay the fees required under immigration rules which gives them the player in permit terms.
The second is that they have to agree that should any other club want his services they (WHUFC) have to be consulted and agree to that. That is surely an impossible situation to even to imagine.
The Home Office itself insists that should any other club manage to get him to sign they would have to get agreement from WHUFC – which seem inconceivable – they will then have to go through another work permit hearing.
That hasn’t happened nor could it within the timeframe within which we are being told this has happened given that Traore had a Hammers medical before allegedly leaving for Everton.
We stress that right now all of this is unconfirmed and we are continuing to monitor the story.
However, if it turns out to be true it looks as though somehow, somewhere a coach and horses will have been driven through the legal requirements and that very big questions will have to be answered.
