Bolanos blow

Charlton have admitted defeat in their pursuit of winger Cristian Bolanos after the Costa Rica international was denied a work permit by the Home Office on Tuesday.

Bolanos in action against the Kiwis at The Valley during pre-season

But Addicks head coach Iain Dowie has insisted that the club would remain in contact with Bolanos, and didn't rule out resurrecting the move in the future.

A season-long loan deal for the 22-year-old, who already has 18 caps for his country and appeared in two of Costa Rica's three games at this summer's World Cup, had already been agreed with Deportivo Saprissa.

But with Bolanos having not played the required number of 'A' games for his country, a panel turned down Charlton's appeal late on Tuesday night.

"I was very surprised by the verdict," admitted Dowie.

"We felt we had a very strong case. He's an emerging talent and has become a fixture in the Costa Rica side despite his age, so it's very disappointing, not just for us but for the lad as well."

Bolanos played in two pre-season friendlies for the Addicks, at Welling United and against New Zealand at The Valley, impressing on both occasions.

The Charlton boss added: "I've met his wife and child and he's very disappointed. It would have been a fantastic move for him; he's super-fit, and was ready to hit the ground running."

Home Office rules state that work permit appeals can only be made once in 12 months, as Liverpool discovered in the case of Chilean Mark Gonzalez, who was given the green light to switch from Spain to Anfield at the second attempt.

To gain an automatic permit, a non-European Union player must have played in 75 per cent of 'A' internationals for his country in the two years before the application, while the player's country must regularly make the top 70 world rankings.

And the fact that the panel is not obliged to give the reasons behind its rejection of an appeal leads to double frustration, as Addicks chief executive Peter Varney explained.

"I think the process should be more transparent and allow for the applicant to be told why they haven't received a permit," he said.

"Why is it a secretive process? It's particularly frustrating because it's helpful to know where we need to look in terms of future applications."

With the work permit for the 22-year-old refused, Dowie may have to look elsewhere in the short term.

But with the August transfer window set to close on Thursday, the Addicks boss will be up against it - although he did leave the door open for a possible revival of his interest in Bolanos in a year's time.

Dowie said: "It causes us a problem because he fits the description of what we're trying to do at the club; he's athletic and very good technically.

"From my point of view it's frustrating but more disappointing for the lad because he's a great kid.

"We must move on now, it's something we won't let go though because he enjoyed it here and we certainly rate him."

Bolanos first came to prominence last December when he featured for Saprissa at the Club World Championship in Japan.

He scored the only goal of the game as his club set up a semi-final date with Liverpool with a victory against Australia's Sydney FC, and then caught the eye as an attacking talent despite the eventual 3-0 defeat to the Champions League holders in Yokohama.

Later named the third best player of the tournament, Bolanos had a 10-day trial at Anfield.

The San Jose-born Bolanos featured in two games for his country at the World Cup, entering the fray as a second-half substitute against Germany in the tournament's opening game and starting Costa Rica's third fixture, a 2-1 defeat to Poland.

As well as helping Saprissa to third in the Club World Championship he has also lifted the Costa Rica national championship, plus the UNCAF Cup and CONCACAF Champions Cup. He also played for his country in the U17 World Championships in Trinidad & Tobago in 2001.