A FOOTBALL club's 'scoop' German signing has been put on hold because of international red tape.

Promising teenage goalkeeper Axel Funke had hoped to be in Crook Town's squad for last night's home game against Albany Northern League rivals West Auckland.

After a record 13-0 drubbing at Dunston on Saturday following an injury to regular keeper Anthony Robinson, the club was relying on 18-year-old Axel to provide much-needed strength in depth.

The team was so short of players on Saturday that manager Dennis Pinkney had to take over when the score was 4-0. He later blasted absent players for not turning up.

Last night secretary Alan Stewart was still waiting for international clearance from the German football authorities for Axel to play.

He only arrived in Crook 12 days ago and hasn't even had time to train with the Crook team.

Axel is living with Carol Phillipson and her daughters Rebecca, 18, and Claire, 15, for six months while he studies for two A-levels at Wolsingham School and Community College.

In Germany he fought back from serious illness to play for his home town side Tus Vektoria Dehme, near Wear Valley's twin town Bad Oeynhausen.

Two years ago he was considered good enough to be chosen to train for a week with one of the world's top clubs, Bayern Munich.

A towering 6ft 3ins, he runs every day before school to regain the fitness he lost last February when he was struck down by a deep vein leg thrombosis which travelled to his lung.

He was out of sport for four months and has to wear a leg brace when he isn't playing.

He said: "I had hoped to play for Crook last Saturday but the clearance hadn't come through from Germany.

"I am here to learn English and I hope to play football as well. The Albany league is a similar standard to the Kreisliga league I play in in Germany."

Mr Stewart is still hoping for a last minute fax message from the German FA. He said: "We have completed our paperwork. All we need is clearance from them.