Blackpool keeper Kingson in Ghana to chase work permit

Published on: 16 September 2010

Blackpool goalkeeper Richard Kingson has arrived in his home country of Ghana to secure a UK work permit to enable him play in the Premier League.

The Seasiders signed the World Cup goalkeeper on a free transfer last month and named him in their 24-man squad for the 2010/11 season.

But he has not been able to play for them because he had to get a fresh UK work permit to play in one of the most competitive leagues in Europe.

He is expected to sort it out before the weekend to make him eligible to play in the Premier League’s weekend matches.

But the Ghanaian shot stopper faces a difficult prospect of getting the newly-promoted side’s first choice place as Matt Gilks has excelled so far.

Gilks has had a good start to the season, and has been a steadfast figure between the sticks especially when they beat Newcastle United recently. Even when we conceded six at Arsenal, Gilks pulled off a couple of brilliant saves to limit the damage. His fine form was rightly rewarded by a Scotland call-up, which makes me proud considering he joined Blackpool having just been released from Norwich after struggling to show his true worth.

Seasiders boss Ian Holloway moved for Kingson, the former Wigan and Birmingham stopper, due to a long term injury to Paul Rachubka.

Kingson helped Ghana reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in South Africa but they were dumped out by Uruguay via  where they eventually lost to Uruguay in a controversial match settled by a penalty shoot-out.

Earlier, Kingson was voted man of the match in Ghana’s last 16 win over the United States.

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