FC Edmonton says new player arriving on weekend: Linfield confirms it’s NI international Robert Garrett By Steven Sandor Posted on April 10, 2013 4 0 870 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter FC Edmonton confirmed that it will be announcing a new player on Saturday, pending that player passing a medical after he arrives in Canada. That player is expected to be Northern Irish international Robert Garrett, who Linfield FC announced would be going to Edmonton on loan for the NASL season. FCE has not officially confirmed the identity of the player, just that someone is indeed arriving Friday night in Edmonton. And, because a medical still needs to be passed, FCE does not consider the deal to be final. Yesterday, Linfield FC manager David Jeffrey confirmed on the club’s website that Garrett, who has five senior caps for Northern Ireland, would be going to FCE, where he’d rejoin former teammates Albert Watson and Daryl Fordyce. Watson, now FCE’s captain, and Fordyce left Linfield outright and then had successful trials with the Eddies. Watson is currently out with a torn MCL and Fordyce started in Saturday’s season-opening draw with Fort Lauderdale. Jeffrey was quoted on the Linfield official site: “I can confirm that Robert Garrett will be leaving the club to take up an offer of full-time football in Canada. Robert Garrett “The simple fact of the matter is that when Robert agreed his current contract with the club, as part of the negotiations a clause was inserted in his contract whereby the club would agree to his release, if the opportunity of full-time football were to come along for him. “I think it’s important on the club’s behalf that we clarify the circumstances of Robert’s release from his contract, when compared to the situation we were faced with with regard to Daryl Fordyce and Albert Watson. “They both advised the club in writing of their request to be released from their contract because it was their intention to emigrate to Canada. Football was a secondary consideration for them and certainly not the primary reason for their decision to leave Northern Ireland. At that stage, while it would be fair to say the timing of their departures was unfortunate, the club chose to respect their wishes and allow them to play football in Canada. “To give further clarification on the circumstances of Robert’s departure ; in the first instance Robert will be leaving us on the basis of a loan agreement for the duration of the Canadian season which ends in November. At that time Robert’s situation will be reviewed by this club.” If the player does pass the medical, he will not be available for Saturday’s match against Carolina. The target debut match would be the April 20 road game in Minnesota. Garrett is a former Stoke City youth player.
