Strictly hypothetical question...

On an Aston Villa forum I post regularly at, in a thread regarding Villa's interest in signing an American keeper (Brad Guzan), in response to this post:

I still find it amusing that someone, say a baker, could get a work visa for the UK but a professional footballer can't.

Would I be correct in saying that the baker would have to try as a Tier 2 (unless they went in as an investor of some sort...)?  Would it further be correct to say that the footballer might actually have an easier time of it, as they/their club wouldn't have to show that they're a better keeper than anybody else available, only that they had played the requisite number of internationals for a country of sufficient standing?

But the real hypothetical question I ask is:

Would the only plausible way for the footballer to come over as an investor be for the footballer to buy a Conference club or something, install himself as player-manager and then loan himself out to the bigger club that actually wanted his services?  If loaning the player out still maintains their employment relationship with the Conference club, then it would seem to be hunky-dory...

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/workpermits/workpermitarrangements/sportsandentertainments/footballplayers/
To be eligible for a work permit:

    * a player must have played for his country in at least 75% of its competitive 'A' team matches he was available for selection, during the two years preceding the date of the application; and
    * the player's country must be at or above 70th place in the official FIFA world rankings when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the application.


Not just any old footballer can get a work permit, just as any old baker can't.

To be a manager..
To be eligible for a work permit:

Managers and first team coaches must have overall responsibility for first team selection. Joint or partial responsibility for first team selection does not meet the criteria.

The manager or first team coach must also:

    * hold a UEFA professional licence or equivalent; or
    * have managed or coached in a professional league for at least two of the last five years; or
    * have managed or coached an international team with a FIFA ranking of 70th or higher within the last five years.


Don't think a manager could be a player as well...

Villa fans have a gripe over Brad Guzan, who doesn't fit the work permit criteria because he hasn't played enough games at international level.  Work permits for footballers can be tricky - they need to have played a number of clubs at international level and their nation needs to be ranked in the top 70 .  However, employers do have the ability to make verbal representations, which is something no other employer can do.

I have never heard of a work permit being approved for a baker.  It has happened for speciality or internationaly renowned chefs who specialise in indian bread etc, but these are now VERY difficult to get.

I don't have much sympathy for Villa, I'm afraid - I feel more sorry for Nashat Akram and Manchester City.

Vicky