It's further complicated by the fact that anything to do with immigration is intensely political, and the UKBA are well aware of that. They are going to be extremely careful about what's said in public and about how the rules are applied.

If Bird is allowed to enter the country after being refused a visa, it's going to open a huge can of worms. I'm pretty confident that the UKBA would rather that can remain firmly closed...

The UKBA refuse Bird a Visa for entry into the UK . He then signs for a French Club and is allowed to enter the UK every 2 weeks to play here?
It all seems very strange!

Have you not read the last 20 or so posts?

It's extremely unlikely that Bird will be allowed into the UK.

Was told today by an Ex-FC player, still well connected to the club that Crocker HAS been granted a Visa. Sanctions are being added to the visa because of his charge for affray 4 yrs ago and this explains the rather drawn out nature of the whole affair. He'll be here in a fortnight. Swore i wasn't going to get into the Crocker will he/wont he, can he/can't he scenario but the nature of the source has put a whole new slant on it as far as i'm concerned. I was told "this is no rumour"!

believe it when i see it

Lets hope

I may be viewing the glass as half full here but I do have a positive feeling about Crocker's re-application.

Crocker and his management team will have taken his initial application as routine and will not have anticipated the problems that have arisen.

The second application, I am sure, will be much more thorough, include character references, details of the community work he has done in Melbourne, and details of the impact he will have on the community programmes run by Hull FC.

I am sure that the new rules will allow for a degree of discretion and I genuinely think there is a chance he will succeed.

I don't for one second believe the decision has been made, but perhaps the positive vibes have come from some feedback received via Crocker or his management team indicating that the case may be viewed in a favourable light.

Or perhaps I'm clutching at straws...

One of the sanctions is that he's not allowed out on a evening after 7:30pm!!

Until its official then it is clearly a rumour.

My god this issue is gettin well out of hand, we've got people claiming to know things that probably haven't even happened yet, also people having a go at people for being optimistic about things. And people claiming that people don't lie on record in order to keep things in house (which is done most fecking times by coaches, players etc..). Why shouldn't people be able to be optimistic without people mocking them. Sometimes i wonder if people want him to come.

I am going to have withdrawl symtpoms when this thread has gone...
I like the posts which say he is coming the best