“We are still discussing things,” said Miller. “Paul and I have a good relationship, and we are trying to resolve the situation.”

FC Edmonton will not confirm — and won’t even comment on this — but there have been reports out of Vancouver that the Eddies were close to securing Whitecaps’ defender Carlyle Mitchell on loan, adding to what has become a crowded back line.

Ghanaian defender/midfielder Emmanuel Adjetey will begin a trial with FC Edmonton this week. Adjetey represented Ghana at the U-17 level and is a product of Ashanti Gold SC, a club that has been a virtual (pardon the pun) goldmine for producing players who make the moves from Africa to larger leagues around the world. At one time, Liverpool had its …

FC Edmonton chopped five players from the roster Saturday, including veterans Chris Kooy and Kenny Caceros. As well, while 2012 NASL Best XI defender Paul Hamilton was not part of the cuts, he is also not signed, either.

“It’s not a nice situation,” said Miller after the first of the team’s two training sessions Friday at the Commonwealth Fieldhouse. “We’ve worked with these players for two weeks; it’s a situation where some of them have really got to liking the city… And I understand that these can be life-changing decisions for some of these players, both positively and negatively.”

Even though his agent declared that the Canadian forward, who represented his country in January friendlies against Denmark and the United States, had come to terms with D.C. United last weekend, the move was only completed Thursday.

It might seem like a strange decision. Chris Nurse, in search of another second-division title, came to a franchise that finished in last place in the league last season.

“I have spoken to Paul (Hamilton), he knows he has work to do,” said Miller. “There are weaknesses in his game that I have seen, and that we have talked about. I think the experience that Albert Watson (the Northern Irish veteran who came to FCE from Linfield FC) brings will help Paul with his game."

Hometown products Shaun Saiko, who led the team in scoring last season, and fullback Antonio Rago were officially placed on the list, but Alberta-born centre back and NASL Best XI member Paul Hamilton was not part of the 16.

According to a release on the Belfast club Linfield FC's website released this weekend: "Former Linfield players Albert Watson and Daryl Fordyce have today signed for FC Edmonton in Canada following a two-week trial."