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Thu, Nov

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Trinidad and Tobago 2006 World Cup goalkeeper Kelvin Jack is hoping for a European escape after nine months of stagnation with England League One club Gillingham.

 

The 31-year-old custodian will complete his contract at Gillingham this June and is almost certain to move on after nine months without a competitive outing for the "Gulls".
 
There has been interest in the former CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh captain and Jack, who is in Trinidad on personal business, is hoping for good news when he returns to England today.
 
"I have had a few enquiries from (clubs in) Romania and Greece," Jack told the Express. "When I get back, I will have a better idea about what the clubs are offering and which sides want me and then I will be able to better assess my next move."
 
On January 11, Jack won a counter-suit against his former agent, Mike Berry, when the Leeds County Court ruled that the agent improperly failed to disclose a payment of £3,000 from Scottish Premier League club Dundee, which was related to the player's move there (Berry also handles several Trinidad and Tobago players, including the World Cup quartet of Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence, Jason Scotland and Clayton Ince).
 
However, Jack heads a list of "Soca Warriors" who have failed to ignite after the prestigious tournament in Germany. Injury initially denied Jack the chance to keep his place in the national squad, while he was among 16 players blacklisted by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (T&TFF) after a dispute over World Cup bonuses.
 
The T&TFF promised to lift their blacklist and have recalled several players who they branded "greedy mercernaries" last year, but Jack is still in the cold.
 
"The last few months have been a very, very difficult period for me," said Jack. "Not being selected on a Saturday by my club for reasons that I will not comment on right now. It is very disheartening to be left out of the national team too because I absolutely love to represent my country.
 
"There have been instances before when as soon as I recovered I was asked to represent my country, but obviously this wasn't the case this time and I find it more surprising that no one has called to see what condition I am in.
 
"We have an experienced manager in (Francisco) Maturana now and he has a good pedigree and is a winner and this excites me."
 
 The present difficulties faced by his former Gillingham and national teammate, Brent Sancho, is a reminder of how fickle life can be as a professional player.
 
Sancho, who played in all three matches at Germany 2006, has been unemployed since last June - a one-month deal at Millwall notwithstanding.
 
"As a footballer, at the end of a contract, you're always anxious to sign your next one," said Jack. "It is not just about being a good player. Clubs may already have good players in your position or they may have average guys on long-term contracts, so it is not easy to get a club.
 
"I am trying to do the right things and stay fit so, hopefully, I won't have the same problems (as Sancho). I find it shocking that he can't find a club and it is scary when you think about it but he has shown unbelievable strength and is a strong character.
 
"I believe he will come out of it at the end with no problems at all."
 
Jack hopes his own uncertainty will be solved soon so he can restart his trade between the uprights. Suitors are welcome.