St Johnstone have continued to find themselves frustrated by bureaucracy and red tape surrounding the registration of new ‘signing’ George Bowerman.
The 21-year-old striker has been training with Saints this week after agreeing a contract with the Perth club until January, but cannot make his debut until the necessary paperwork has been signed off.
And that has so far proved to be a major stumbling block for officials at McDiarmid Park who have been in repeated contact with the English FA to try to secure the clearance that will see the deal rubber-stamped.
The snag appears to relate to two games Bowerman played for Conference Premier side Woking at the start of this season, thought to be on a non-contract basis.
The forward only featured with Woking for three days, playing against Welling on Saturday August 24 and against Aldershot the following Monday, and the Scottish football authorities are content that he is free to sign.
Nevertheless, the English FA are refusing to complete their end of the transfer until Bowerman’s status is clarified.
Efforts to clear up the registration wrangle are expected to continue today and Saints remain hopeful that he will be available in time for this weekend’s visit of Inverness.
However, as time wears on, the prospect of him being included in the squad to face Terry Butcher’s team looks increasingly unlikely.
Bowerman came through the youth ranks at Walsall and, after he made his debut for the club in August 2011, went on to feature 59 times during his spell at the Bescot Stadium, scoring 11 times.
But after netting seven goals in 33 appearances for the League One outfit he was released, prompting his short-term move to Woking in August.
Meanwhile, former Saints defender Michael Duberry, 37, yesterday announced his retirement from football. The centre half signed for the Perth club in 2010 and proved to be a fans’ favourite during his time north of the border.
Duberry, a prominent figure on Twitter, was inundated with positive messages from St Johnstone supporters, after enjoying a successful spell in Perth under Derek McInnes.
The former Stoke, Leeds and Reading defender arrived at McDiarmid Park in February 2010, joining former Chelsea team-mate Jody Morris in Scottish football, and went on to make 57 appearances for the club in 18 months.
Duberry also turned out for Bournemouth and Wycombe in a varied career.