Wesley Waves Whitecaps Farewell

Vancouver Whitecaps season now seems to be lumbering from one disaster to another.

The latest, in what is fast becoming a season to forget, is the release of top defender Wesley Charles following a training ground flare up with fellow defender Jeff Parke yesterday.

Charles has been outstanding for Vancouver since joining them last season, a rock in defence, and played a key role in last season’s USL Championship win.

The St Vincent & Grenadines international has not had his troubles to seek though and was involved in the onfield bust up with team-mate Charles Gbeke that saw him receive a red card and a two game ban (see HERE and HERE).

That incident saw both players receive a final warning from the Club that such behaviour would not be tolerated and it is disappointing to see that Charles has only managed to keep his nose clean for just over a month.

The incident this time still remains a little sketchy but it appears that Charles took exception to a challenge by Parke and according to Parke, Charles tried to elbow and head-butt him.

Charles was immediately sent from the training pitch and was later released by the Whitecaps.

His loss is a huge blow to Vancouver, who are short on confidence with only two wins in nine and already short of quality defensive options.

It is a disappointing end to Wesley’s Vancouver career. He was highly thought of by the fans and was one of my favourite Caps players. He was always committed, maybe too much so at times it would appear.

Before joining Vancouver he spent 11 years in Ireland and his family are still over there. Whether he will now return to try his hand in Ireland or the UK, I don’t know, but whoever manages to attain his services will have a great defender on their books. Of course, his reputation is now tarnished and some clubs may give him a wide berth, which would be a real shame.

He’d do a great job at East Fife if Stevie Crawford is reading this. Can only improve last night’s 7-1 drubbing by Dunfermline in a friendly!

I’ll certainly miss Wesley Charles at Vancouver and wish him well, wherever he may now end up.