Quote:
Wizards poised to make goalkeeping switch to Denmark’s Jimmy Nielsen
By TEREZ A. PAYLOR
The Kansas City Star
It appears that one way or another, the Wizards will have a new starting goalkeeper in 2010.
On the same day that Wizards technical director Peter Vermes confirmed that the chances of goalkeeper Kevin Hartman returning to the team are slim to none, Danish goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen said he is joining the Wizards on a one-year contract.
Vermes declined to comment on the report about Nielsen, 32, who has spent the last two years with Vejle Boldklub, which was relegated from Denmark’s top league last year.
However, Vermes did say Hartman, 35, a three-year starter for the Wizards who has been in contract negotiations with the league for two months, no longer figures in the team’s plans.
“He will not be back at this point,” Vermes said. “We went through a long, extensive negotiation, and we were just unable to come to terms.
“It’s been 22 days that we’ve been in camp. At the end of the day, we have to start putting together the pieces we need for our team this year.”
Nielsen joined Vejle Boldklub in January 2008 from Leicester City in England. Vejle Boldklub said in a statement Thursday that he needs to undergo a medical check before switching to Major League Soccer.
•TALKS CONTINUE: Major League Soccer and the players’ union announced Thursday that they have agreed to continue negotiations through Feb. 25 as they work toward reaching a new collective-bargaining agreement. The previous deadline to reach an agreement was today.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Posted on Thu, Feb. 11, 2010 11:04 PM
By TEREZ A. PAYLOR
The Kansas City Star
It appears that one way or another, the Wizards will have a new starting goalkeeper in 2010.
On the same day that Wizards technical director Peter Vermes confirmed that the chances of goalkeeper Kevin Hartman returning to the team are slim to none, Danish goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen said he is joining the Wizards on a one-year contract.
Vermes declined to comment on the report about Nielsen, 32, who has spent the last two years with Vejle Boldklub, which was relegated from Denmark’s top league last year.
However, Vermes did say Hartman, 35, a three-year starter for the Wizards who has been in contract negotiations with the league for two months, no longer figures in the team’s plans.
“He will not be back at this point,” Vermes said. “We went through a long, extensive negotiation, and we were just unable to come to terms.
“It’s been 22 days that we’ve been in camp. At the end of the day, we have to start putting together the pieces we need for our team this year.”
Nielsen joined Vejle Boldklub in January 2008 from Leicester City in England. Vejle Boldklub said in a statement Thursday that he needs to undergo a medical check before switching to Major League Soccer.
•TALKS CONTINUE: Major League Soccer and the players’ union announced Thursday that they have agreed to continue negotiations through Feb. 25 as they work toward reaching a new collective-bargaining agreement. The previous deadline to reach an agreement was today.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Posted on Thu, Feb. 11, 2010 11:04 PM
