I talked to Romf before he was deported and he was really upset. He said that when he applied for the visa he just went by what G told him. Romf said when signed with the team and he was applying to the Uni he was asking G which visa he needed to apply for because he was also applying the 1 year MBA. G told him not to worry about that one and that the devils would take care of everything. Apparently G kept telling him not to worry about the student visa. I wonder if G told him not to leave or when the devils would have the visa extension. Sounds like they only told him to apply for the work visa and didn’t bother with the student visa even tho Romf kept asking. Maybe he was naive, but can’t blame him if the coach gave him wrong advice?? What about the Uni – 1 year MBA – part time student? No student Visa? Weren’t they working with G to get him set up? Maybe the devils organization should right the wrong advice work with the uni to let Romf complete his study in the US - would save the team money for airfare, housing etc. Maybe that would right the wrong - do something for the mess they caused Romf - he certainly didn't cause the team any problems when he came back to study - he came back and was a real contributor to the team - shouldn't the devils do likewise

That's what I mean. Two of your sentences start with the word 'if' ! Then you say 'I heard Romf heard the night before etc ', so that is mere heresay! Who's to say that what you have heard is not correct. That's why I posted that it's a pity we haven't heard from the two parties that can nip this in the bud i.e Romf or the club.

Dvlswin, you say you spoke to Scott before he left and yet,as has been posted you keep saying if !....reading your posts makes me maintain that a lot of the problems have been caused by Scott not looking into things properly for himself !!

bottom line "if the devils had instructed him properly" as an employer, from the start, Romf wouldn't have had problems - the devils ill advised him from the start and began the problems they should act honorably to correct the situation they now have him in. Work with the Uni, and appeal - give him the opportunity to complete the last courses on line from the US. This would allow the devils organization to avoid added expense and repair the damage they cause by the ill advice given from the start.

We will have to just disagree then. The employer is an Ice hockey team....what on earth would they know about visa's etc after the contract with a player had ended ?. Has any other player over here on the Devils uni deal ran into this kind of trouble before ? As i have said before there are thousands of websites to find out the correct information regarding visa's and leaving the UK.

At the end of the day, responsibility laid with Scott.

The lesson here is, never trust anyone. Check for yourself.

Personally I think he's been treated like brown stuff, of course he came back after being fired, what else was he supposted to do in the middle of his course.

Maybe he was naive, to believe people who should know the system inside out.

Its a shame he didn't approach the Uni's student support team, they may have been able to advise and help, I dunno, give him the correct info at least.

I do think the club should take SOME responsibility for making sure the players paperwork is correct

I do think we messed Romfo about to a certain extent last year. However, international visas are part of the day job for these guys, and surely the agents that represent them should be making sure that visa arrangements are appropriate? I think there is blame here, but with regard to the visas I believe that Romfo and his agent were fully responsible for making sure that all the appropriate arrangements were in place before turning up to play.

I agree. If Scott was being told something by G and the club which proved to be incorrect then surely they should try and help to put it right? After all he probably thought "they've done this before so they know what they are doing" which is exactly what I would have thought.

Naive? Maybe a little, but you have to trust people sometimes and I'm sure the club don't want a reputation as someone that you can't trust. The Uni courses have been a strong selling point to attract quality players and we wouldn't want that to be diminished in any way. Mistakes were made on all sides and the club should assist in putting them right.

I agree with you entirely - first time Romf probably applied for a visa if he hadn't been out of N America must have figured G and the club had recruited many times and did the paperwork for many imports - why wouldn't he do what they said, especially since he probaby had a lot going on to leave the US and come over. Heard he quit a good job and sold everything he had. the uni must have been a drawing point for him. Showed a lot when he came back for his finals after being let go. Shows his character. only has 3 classes left. He told me the Uni told him they would help him finish. Heard the uni is making him wait until May 2011 and that the school has changed their mind on helping him finish - 1 person in administration holding the bag. G and the club should get involved and help him finish in the US - imagine Romf needes to finalize and move on. Would be a good time for G and the club to show their character and commit themselves to making things right with Romf - so as not to have adverse affect on attracting players. won't word get out in the states? Isn't John Harrington coaching Italy a friend of his family?