Irvine confident over Gamboa work permit appeal

04 August 2014 12:46

West Brom head coach Alan Irvine is confident of winning a Football Association work permit appeal hearing for Cristian Gamboa.

Costa Rica international Gamboa has already agreed personal terms with the Baggies and passed a medical, but his move from Rosenborg has been delayed after failing the required criteria for a permit.

Although Gamboa played in all five of Costa Rica's matches during the World Cup, the 24-year-old falls just short of appearing in 75 per cent of his country's games over the last two years.

Irvine, however, believes the FA panel - which is likely to hear the case this week - will be reasonable once they hear Albion's argument on the player's behalf.

"We're not in control, it's out of our hands, but I think it would be amazing if we didn't get this one over the line," said Irvine on the club's official website.

"Cristian has played just over 70 per cent of the games for his country, but they've factored into those figures a non-Fifa ranked tournament which his club (Rosenborg) stopped him going to.

"They kept Cristian back to play in some league games."

Irvine also appears poised to finally conclude a move for Australia left-back Jason Davidson.

The Baggies have had to wait patiently for Davidson to resolve a contract dispute with Dutch Eredivisie club Heracles Almelo.

Davidson, who played in Australia's three World Cup group matches, believed he had finished his contract with Heracles and had become a free agent.

Heracles, however, informed Davidson they had triggered a one-year option on that deal and he was still their player.

But Albion are believed to be closing in on a resolution with talks over terms and a medical scheduled to go ahead this week.

Source: PA