Tagoe resigns from Olympics

Accra, April 27, GNA - Accra Great Olympics ace midfielder, Joseph Tagoe has announced his resignation from the club with immediate effect. In a letter to the Chairman of the club, which was made available to the GNA Sports, Tagoe said, "Accra Great Olympics have for the past seven months wilfully declined, neglected or refused to pay my salaries for no apparent reason, formal or otherwise".

Tagoe, known in football cycles as "Bobby Short", has for the past months been training with Accra Hearts of Oak, but has not been able to feature in the on-going Premier league due to contractual problems. The player, who even though featured for Hearts in both the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Super Cup and Champions League is yet to complete his movement to the 2004 league champions.

According to information, Hearts seem not to be ready to pay the 350 million cedi price tag placed on the player by Olympics.

The impasse, it is believed is because Hearts initially negotiated to pay 100 million cedis of which they made a part payment of 50 million cedis, however with the formation of a new management by Olympics, the august body decided to review the transfer fee.

The player said the action on the part of Olympics has caused him and his family grave distress since he is the breadwinner of the family. "With no other profession in hand than football, I have under article 29, of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) therefore rescinded my contract with the club, which ends on May 8, 2005".

In a related development, the GNA Sports has also gathered that the player has applied for a floating status from the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

Joe Tagoe said his three years contract with Olympics expires on May 8 this year.

"With no other formal profession at my disposal and a bleak future if the trend remains, I would therefore be grateful if you could kindly declare me a floating player", he said. Mr Olloboi Commodore, an official of Accra Great Olympics, however told the GNA Sports that they are not perturbed by the action of the player to resign.

He alleged that Tagoe is being coerced by Hearts to take such an action but added, "he would not succeed".

"If even Tagoe decides to resign, he remains our player for another three months according to the regulations".

On allegations of non-payment of salaries, Mr Commodore said the player has for the past months been in the camp of Hearts and wondered why they should pay him salaries whilst serving another Club.

Mr Commodore said the player on many occasions failed to respond to their call to return to the Club for proper negotiations between Olympics and Hearts.