Bangura set for new hearing
Bangura played in last year's FA Cup semi-final
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Wednesday, 09, Jan 2008 09:34
Al Bangura's hopes of staying with Championship side Watford have increased with news he will receive a hearing to secure a work permit next week.
Watford fear that the talented midfielder could be deported back to Sierra Leone – from where the 19-year-old had fled four years ago.
Bangura was originally scheduled to be deported on Christmas Eve but Watford managed to delay that and have now secured a hearing in an attempt to get him a work permit.
An asylum and immigration tribunal originally rejected Bangura's application to stay in the country, while gaining a work permit is hard because Sierra Leone are outside the top 70 Fifa-ranked sides.
However the club have lobbied MPs to let them keep the promising player.
A club statement said: "The opportunity of a work permit hearing came about following a private meeting between Liam Byrne, minister of state with responsibility for the borders and immigration agency, and Watford MP Claire Ward."
The six-man panel will be comprised of three Home Office officials and three football experts who will judge his ability as a player and whether he can add to the status of the professional game in this country.
The Hornets hope to show that Bangura has a promising future in the English game, having already played in the Premier League at the age of 18 and captained the side in the Championship this season.
Bangura could also qualify to play for England at some stage as he has never competed for Sierra Leone in an international match.