By TheLongside.co.uk
August 11 2005

Burnley's newest player, Artim Sakiri has had a work permit appeal turned down after a hearing in Sheffield today. The Macedonian won't be able to sign for the Clarets despite signing a one year contract.

Artim Sakiri has had his work permit appeal turned down in Sheffield today after Burnley appealed against this same decision earlier in the week following the Macedonian signing a contract with the Clarets.

He featured in friendly games against Accrington Stanley and Malaga, while training with the club as a trialist, last month. He went to persue interest after this with other clubs instead of joining the squad in Austria. He returned though signing a contract, but wasn't granted a work permit and after appeal in Sheffield today, the decision was upheld.

The manager told the official site,

"I don't know what else we could have done,"

"We just need a bit of luck at the moment."

Bill McCartney, Senior Manager Of Work Permits, said:

"I am really sorry that the appeal for Artim Sakiri has been turned down.

"Whereas we don't normally comment on these type of appeals, I felt that Steve Cotterill could not have done any more in putting forward Burnley Football Club's case for appeal than he did."