AAP | 02/12/08 | 0
Red tape - not Todd Carney's long rap sheet - has stalled the former NRL bad boy's departure for England, according to his manager.
Carney's three-year deal with English Super League club Huddersfield Giants officially began on Monday.
And new Giants coach and former Dragons mentor Nathan Brown has admitted he is frustrated by Carney's no show at pre-season training.
However, Carney's manager David Riolo believes Carney's well documented off-field dramas have nothing to do with the anxious wait for a visa.
Riolo said Carney wasn't the only England-bound NRL player sweating on a green light from the British High Commission.
"I have also got (Leeds-bound) Greg Eastwood yet to go through and I know there's others like Tony Puletua who haven't got theirs yet either - it just takes a bit of time," he told AAP.
"Same as everyone else you've got to apply and go through the red tape - hopefully it comes through soon.
"Todd has satisfied all the requirements of the visa. Any issue, I am sure they will contact us ASAP."
Riolo spoke about the delay with Huddersfield general manager Richard Thewlis on the phone on Monday night.
"They obviously want him there as soon as possible - they have started their off-season," Riolo said.
"I haven't been informed of any (visa) problems, and I would imagine I would have by this stage."
In August, Carney had his $1.6 million, four-year deal with the Canberra Raiders torn up after he was ejected from a Goulburn club in southern NSW.
He was deregistered from the NRL until 2010 after a string of alcohol-fuelled misdemeanours.
To boot, the 22-year-old was investigated by police over the smashing of a Goulburn shop window in October.
Brown believed it was just a matter of time before Carney arrived - not that it made the situation any less frustrating.
"There are no problems about getting their visas, it's just a case of when," Brown told UK reporters.
"The process now is a lot slower than it used to be, which is obviously of little consolation to the players.
"I know Todd is desperate to get here as quickly as he possibly can, and the big hope was that he would be here on December 1, when his contract with us begins.
"Everything suggests it'll just be a matter of days before he gets official confirmation, and when that happens he intends to be on the first flight over here."
Huddersfield play their first pre-season game against Halifax on January 4.
Todd has satisfied all the requirements of the visa. Any issue, I am sure they will contact us ASAP...
Todd Carney's manager David Riolo
Send to friend
* Required field