Not Taylor-made for Preston
CARSON, Calif. – Taylor Twellman's disappointment at the collapse of his potential move to English Championship club Preston North End is still simmering.
The New England Revolution striker spoke to Yahoo! Sports after the U.S. national team's training on Wednesday morning and made it clear who he feels is responsible for the breakdown of his transfer, which would have been worth up to $3.5 million.
"It was pretty much Steve Nicol," Twellman said of the Revolution's head coach. "From the information I have gathered, it was pretty much him and the Revolution. They didn't want to transfer me, so hopefully they do me right and compensate me in the right way.
"Obviously, it is encouraging that a team like Preston wants you enough to put an offer in – that is kind of nice. (However) it is extremely disappointing knowing that something is not going to happen. But what are you going to do? It is out of my hands. It is in the Revolution's hands. Let's see what they do.
Added Twellman: "You say your prayers and hope that the Revolution do right. It is like anything. If a college football coach gets recruited by another team and he stays, he is usually compensated fairly and I hope I am compensated fairly as well."
Twellman shouldn't get his hopes of extra cash too high. The Revs feel they have done right by him, signing Twellman last February to the league maximum for a non-designated player with a contract that could pay him over $1 million the next three years. Angry words are unlikely to alter their stance.
Twellman's annoyance stems primarily from the fact that he has finally achieved his dream of being awarded a UK work permit, having racked up enough national team appearances to be given British employment eligibility.
"It is just one of those things where I have been trying to get a permit for seven years," Twellman said. "I finally got one and I got an offer. It is encouraging and now it is a matter of keeping that permit and keeping my options open to get to England."
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
"Martin Vasquez has been a member of Chivas USA since the very beginning, and I would like to thank him for his service to our club. He will be sorely missed." – Chivas USA head coach Preki after assistant coach Vasquez landed a dream role working under Jurgen Klinsmann at Bayern Munich.
