Last Updated: Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:48
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has revealed the club's proposed signing of Jamaica international Rudolph Austin has collapsed.
The Potters' attempt to bring the Portmore United midfielder to the Britannia Stadium has failed due to the player being denied a work permit.
Austin had been a long-term target for the Potters who are keen to bring in some new faces before they kick-off the new campaign on August 16 in their debut Premier League season.
Stoke had agreed a deal with both Portmore and the player, and everything looked set for the 23-year-old to join.
However, boss Pulis has confirmed: "They turned us down, which is desperately disappointing. Obviously we've worked hard over the last 18 months to secure a work permit for Rudolph."
Pulis hinted that the Potters had not given up hope of securing a permit for Austin and that a move may still happen in the future.
He said: "We are looking at all the options. Tony Scholes (chief executive) is speaking to lawyers to see where we go from here.
"We've spoken to Rudolph this morning. Of course he's desperately disappointed, but he's okay and accepts what has happened."