Embarrassment for Nimely as Coventry turn him down
Controversial striker Alex Nimely could be left in limbo after Coventry City turned down his public offer to play for the club.
Mowbray told the Coventry Telegraph that “when Alex Nimely came to Middlesbrough I’d have to say that he didn’t really do it. He found it really hard at first-team level and just didn’t cut it.”
I’d have to say that he didn’t really do it. He found it really hard at first-team level and just didn’t cut it…
It’s an embarassing episode for the forward, who made the offer to play for Coventry despite being contracted to the Valiants and being accused of twice missing training with the Vale.
Nimely has appeared just once for Vale since joining on a free transfer in November. However, on Tuesday, Nimely’s father and agent David Tchuimeni told the Coventry Telegraph that the Valiants refused to play him and reneged on a number of agreements when he signed, including providing accommodation for him and his girlfriend and travelling expenses. Tchuimeni also claimed that the striker wanted to return to former club Coventry.
The move clearly infuriated Port Vale who had given the player a contract only for him to go missing on two occasions. Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite told the Sentinel: “Because he wasn’t then in the squad for a game on the Saturday, he disappeared. He went AWOL and we have not seen him since. He is still a contracted player and his dad wants to cancel that. He is still being paid and also disciplined so there is an ongoing disciplinary process.”
Controversy – Nimely’s Time at Vale
- 27th November – agrees to sign for the club until the end of the season
- 13th December – makes debut as a sub in home defeat to Coventry City
- 22nd January – he trains with Bolton Wanderers but is disciplined for Vale for being absent without permission
- 19th March – he is disciplined a second time for missing training
- 24th March – his agent says Nimely would play for Coventry for free and accuses Vale of breaking promises. Vale respond with owner Norman Smurthwaite saying Nimely went “AWOL” despite being a “contracted player”
- 25th March – Coventry manager Tony Mowbray says he is not interested in signing Nimely