Montego Bay United cave on Célestin

Montego Bay United (MBU) have rescinded claims to have signed highly rated 17-year-old Haitian attacker Franco Célestin, pulling out of what seemed to be a brewing controversy over where the player’s future lies.

The decision comes just days after The Gleaner unveiled an emerging tug-of-war between the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) rivals Mount Pleasant Football Academy and MBU.

MBU made claims to have signed Célestin with the permission of the player’s parents, a process, MBU Chairman Yoni Epstein, said was clear-cut and without issue.

Mount Pleasant Chairman Paul Christie came out swinging, making it absolutely clear that Célestin was a Mount Pleasant player and that MBU had made no formal approach and had invited Célestin to training at MBU without so much as a word.

MBU have since backed away from their position, saying the issue was complicated and not necessary, given their squad depth.

“This is a complicated matter, and with where we are in the rankings and other players that we’re bringing in as the window closes, plus the quality and depth in our squad, it isn’t worth putting a square peg in a round hole,” read the statement from MBU.

MBU advised Célestin’s representatives to make the necessary adjustments to have him return to Mount Pleasant.

The statement is a complete 180 from the ones made by MBU on the announcement of his signing.

At the time Epstein had said: “Well, to have a young man like Franco and his parents decide to switch allegiances to Montego Bay for his further development in the JPL [Jamaica Premier League], and in football in general, it is truly an honour for Montego Bay to have that entrusted to our club, coaches, technical staff and our system.”

Even coach Xavier Gilbert had chimed in on the acquisition, saying: “A player of this calibre for sure is a great addition to any team in the JPL. We are pleased and blessed to have him, and have to give credit to the chairman and the board for making this possible.”

“He is a fantastic player, one of the brightest prospects in the league, very skilful, and can destroy any team on any day.”

Continuing, he added, “We saw what he did to MBU in the semi-finals and he has proven himself. We just hope he can continue on the same path and comtinue to bring success to us as he did to his former team.”

Poaching accusation

Mount Pleasant were furious, accusing MBU of poaching players and not upholding the various transfer policies. Policies, Epstein said, did not hold water in the case of a minor.

“Once you have parent’s consent, which, as I said, we do, the matter will be resolved by the JFF,” said Epstein.

He pointed out that it was illegal for a club to contract a player under the age of 18, and that a minor can move between clubs at any time, once their parent or parents are okay with it.

“The parent signs a consent form and you see the transfer request is sent to the club, which a club has to sign. If a club does not sign it, you go to their federation, and the federation approves it, because nobody can make a decision for a minor other than the parent.”

For the transfer of a minor, he said, all his club would be asked to do is pay a $60,000 administration fee.

Epstein went on to suggest Mount Pleasant’s claims of malfeasance would bear no fruit, given the law.

“They can contest anything they want to contest. The young player has transferred schooling from Mount Pleasant Academy to Irwin High, which has been approved by the Ministry of Education.”

There was no word from MBU on what the process of reversing the steps the club had taken would involve.

On Sunday, after being at the wrong end of a Waterhouse smash-and-grab, Mount Pleasant coach Theodore Whitmore avoided the topic completely, saying: “We have 20 players this afternoon and I would rather speak of the 20 players and speak of how we lost the game. What we can do to rebound from that, more than concentrate on players that are not even in the park this afternoon. They are okay.”