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| Gambia striker Omar Koroma |
Gambia
international striker Omar Koroma has left English Conference Premier [fifth
tier] club Forest Green Rovers by mutual consent, this blog can reveal.
Koroma follows other players out of the New Lawn exit door
as new head coach Adrian Pennock looks to cut his cloth to make way for fresh
faces to bolster the squad he inherited from former boss David Hockaday.
Hockaday previously worked with Koroma at the Watford and
Southampton academies and feels the player can help out in a number of
positions.
Hockaday said at the time of his signing: “He can play
anywhere on the park and can score goals and his pedigree will tell you all you
need to know about him.”
The 24-year-old Gambia striker joined Rovers in May 2012
after agreeing a three year contract – but the former Portsmouth and Norwich
City forward has made few starts over the past 18 months and failed to score in
any competitive game since his arrival.
The Gambia international previously spent two years at
Portsmouth under then manager Harry Redknapp and also had a loan spell at
Norwich during the 2008/09 season. He was released by Pompey in 2010 and had
been playing in Denmark before joining Forest Green on trial.
Forest Green Rovers new manager Ady Pennock said: “On behalf
of the club and staff, we wish OJ all the best in his future career.”
Speaking to this blog in an exclusive interview, the former Hawks forward said he
was happy leaving the Nailsworth club as he doesn’t see his future with them.
“That’s what I wanted [to leave the club]. Because I feel
like I wasn’t going anywhere with them and it is better I left,” Koroma said.
The 5ft 10in attacker added: “I know I do have a great future
so I am looking forward to my next move which will be soon.”
Born in the Gambian capital of Banjul, OJ Koroma signed a
two year deal with then Premier League side Portsmouth in the summer of 2008
after impressing then Pompey boss Harry Redknapp during pre-season trials.
He went on loan to then Championship side Norwich City,
making his debut in August 2008 in a game against Coventry City, but a serious
ankle injury in December 2008 curtailed what promised to be a lengthy loan
spell with the Canaries and the long injury lay-off eventually led to OJ
leaving Portsmouth in the summer of 2009.
After a long road back from injury, Koroma spent time
playing back in Gambia before trialing with Rovers for several months in 2012.
After scoring a brace against Crawley Town in a reserves match, former Forest
Green manager David Hockaday decided to give the then 22-year-old a second
chance in English football.
Koroma leaves Rovers having made 23 appearances in all
competitions, including five league starts.
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