Williams By Nodley Wright,
Staff Reporter
NATIONAL midfielder Andy Williams was due in England last night for trials with Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest.
The 23-year-old will spend a week with each club. Williams, a former St George's College and Rhode Island University star, left Jamaica on Tuesday for Miami where he was set to make final preparations for his England stay.
Williams' time in England means he will miss the funeral of former national teammate Steve Malcolm who died on Sunday just hours after playing in a friendly match against Bulgaria.
It is understood Williams wanted to remain for the funeral but was unable to do so as he had already delayed his trials to take part in the recent friendlies against Bolivia and Bulgaria
The trials for the attacking midfielder who has a contract with Miami Fusion in the United States Major League Soccer (MLS), were facilitated by contacts made by Nottingham Forest to the MLS and officials of Birmingham City contacting his club.
"They (Forest) contacted the league about acquiring me on loan for the rest of this year. They have worked it out so that I go up on February 1, or at least until after these two friendlies," Williams said last week. "I will be heading over for 12 days and will also be trying out with Birmingham City."
At Forest, Williams, said, the time would be spent proving to manager David Platt he was at the same level he was a year ago when he tried to recruit him.
"Platt, the coach of Nottingham Forest, he knew me when he was recruiting Stern (John, a former temmate of his at Columbus Crew) and he wanted me from then.
"He wanted Stern and I to come over but I do not know what happened in the talks. Anyway, he said that it had been a year since he had seen me so he is asking that I come and train for a week or whatever to see where I am," said Williams.
Questioned further if the observation would be about fitness, he responded: "I do not know if it is fitness or whatever but he just said that he liked what he saw a year ago and just wants to see if I am at the same level."
On Birmingham City, the man who boasts a record of 52 goals for the University of Rhode Island said: "I just got a call from my agent to say that they contacted him and then they spoke with Michael Johnson (former Reggae Boy who also served as Birmingham captain) and I guess the coach is interested."
Williams said he was happy that the opportunity presented itself and expressed the hope that the deal would be a long-term one and not just a loan arrangement as "right now it would be taking my career to a next level".
"I am ready for the move. It is about time and I will be 24 later this year. You know... I am getting old and you know age matters over there (Britain)," he said.
In other news related to Reggae Boyz, forward Onandi Lowe finally joined up with his Second Division team Port Vale while Ricardo Fuller scored for the Charlton Athletic reserves on Wednesday.
