Fuller facing an uncertain future

Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer

A YEAR after forcing his way out of First Division club Preston North End, a club where he was adored and successful, Jamaican striker Ricardo Fuller faces an uncertain future.

Last year Fuller handed in a transfer request to Preston North End who were forced to sell the player or risk losing him for free at the end of the season. That move collapsed due to knee troubles only to be revived again.

It was reported yesterday that Sunderland who will be parading in the Premiership during the upcoming season, pulled out of signing Fuller from Portsmouth because of a failed medical.

According to football web site soccernet.com, "the 25-year-old former Preston striker looked to be heading for the Stadium of Light, but a persistent knee injury has scuppered the move."

FAILED HIS MEDICAL

Portsmouth chief executive, Peter Storrie commented in the report that Fuller's knee problem was an open secret. 'Ricardo failed his medical. Everyone knows he has got a knee problem and Sunderland knew that in advance," he was quoted as saying.

He was further quoted as saying, "We had structured a pay-as-you-play deal that was the same kind of deal as he had here. His knee might need an operation at some stage, but it could be next week or it could be in the next five years. Everyone knew that was the case.

"It is surprising that this has happened after Sunderland knew the facts anyway," he added. "It is frustrating, especially for Ricardo," added Storrie who expressed the hope that another team will soon sign him.

Fuller's failed move follows the most barren season in his British football experience which saw him descend from a freescoring player to a scoreless one.

SCORED ONE GOAL

He was also fourth in the Portsmouth strikers pecking order behind Nigerian Aiyegbeni Yakubu who has since moved to Middlesbrough, Lomana Lua-Lua and Dimonsy Kamara. Despite playing all of 31 games last season, 13 as a starter and 17 as a substitute, he scored just one goal.

His Portsmouth output was far inferior to his 27 goals in 58 games for Preston. Prior to Preston he had eight goals in 27 games for Scottish team Heart of Midlothian where he was a fan favourite.

With reports that new Portsmouth manager, Frenchman Alain Perrin, is on the hunt for two new strikers, the message seems clear than Fuller is surplus to requirements. Fuller is due to depart the country on Wednesday with the national team to participate in the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament in the United States.