Hearts disappointed at FA members actions in Taylor's saga

Accra, Aug. 5, - Mr Thomas Okine, Chief Executive of Accra Hearts of Oak, has expressed his club's disappointment at the manner in which some management members of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) namely Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah and Yaw La Danso conducted themselves during the Charles Taylor transfer saga.

A statement signed by Mr Ashford Tettey Oku, the club's administrative secretary, said Hearts were saddened by positions adopted by the two where they deliberately frustrated all efforts to bring an amicable settlement either by their ignorance of the GFA regulations or just decided to turn a blind eye to cause mischief to satisfy a particular interest.

In a post-mortem on the issue, the Chief Executive said it was never the club's intention to obstruct the movement of any player from Hearts to any club of his choice "except that we would ensure that the cause of professionalism is never compromised no matter whose ox is gored." The Chief Executive expressed the club's deepest appreciation to colleague management members, the media, National Chapters Committee and the teeming supporters whose supportive and inspirational role brought the Taylor issue to an amicable end last Friday.

He extended special thanks to Mr Ernest Thompson, the Board Secretary whose stoic determination prevented the introduction of a dangerous precedence into the local game at a great sacrifice.

"Indeed the club would have coughed up so much for consultation or legal fees if an outsider was to have been employed for such service" He also commended Mr Bram Larbi who represented the club at the GFA's arbitration to determine the final transfer sum.

The Chief Executive said the club would during the recess of Wednesday's league encounter against Berekum Arsenals cut a cake in celebration for a victory for "professionalism and justice for soccer." 05 Aug. 03