Tijan to stay at Brann

English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers’ reported interest in Gambian teenager Tijan Jaiteh seems to have dissipated almost as quickly as it had emerged, Gambia Sports Online has revealed.

Fellow Premier League side, Sunderland, were also reported last week to have taken an interest in the 19-year-old Brann midfielder after monitoring and
being highly impressed with Tijan’s performance in the Gambia’s 1-1 draw with Senegal during the first phase of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and African Nations Cup.

The reports were widely published in both England and Norway. However, in an exclusive interview on Friday, Brann’s press officer Gorm Nattlandsmyr told Gambia Sports Online’s Musa Sise: “We had a fax from Blackburn [Rovers] but it didn’t say much. So Tijan is here [in Bergen] training with the rest of the [Brann] team.”

Gorm made it clear, though, that Brann would consider a serious offer from the English club. “We would like to have a detailed inquiry from the club, but as you know even where we have such an offer there are so many things to consider before a deal is reached.” Top most among the issues to be thrashed out is the thorny question of an English work permit.

Tijan’s agent admitted that it’s almost impossible for now to secure the 19-year-old a work permit for him to play in England. “It’s going to be a problem getting a work permit,” said Per-Ove Ludvigsen, “and that’s why we pulled out of the Sunderland deal.” “And if Jaiteh can’t get a work permit at Sunderland he can’t get it at Blackburn either.

“So we are not pursuing either offer from England and that means Jaiteh will spend the next season here at Brann.”