Donovan Ricketts' move to Queens Park Rangers has collapsed after his application for a new work permit was turned down.

The Home Office have rejected his bid in light of the lack of competitive fixtures played by Jamaica over the last two years so he has returned to Valley Parade.

It is also believed the fact that he was unlikely to have been first choice at Rangers was also a factor. England under-21 goalkeeper Lee Camp has been a regular at Loftus Road this season.

QPR's subsequent appeal was turned down and the news has left joint City chairman Mark Lawn stunned' - especially after Jamaican team-mate Omar Daley has just been granted a new work permit after agreeing a new contract with the Bantams.

He said: "Donovan's agent said he's done this lots of times and said it wouldn't be a problem so we are shocked and stunned."

The news came just two days after City brought in Scott Loach on loan from Watford until the end of the season as a replacement keeper. The Hornets were only keen to let Loach go out if he was getting regular first-team games.

Lawn added: "It is a blow as we've brought people on board to have a look at them to see whether we might be able to sign them at the end of the season.

"Obviously in doing that we had planned to make use of Donovan's wages."

But Lawn assured supporters that it would not put the club under big financial pressure.

Jamaica only played eight friendlies throughout 2007, with Ricketts playing just once. The Reggae Boyz have dropped to 98th in the FIFA world rankings.

Ricketts' current work permit expires at the end of the season when his contract with City runs out. Home Office rules do not allow a work permit to be transferred from one club to another.

Any move to QPR now looks dead in the water for Ricketts. Clubs are only allowed one appeal per player during the year regarding permits so would not would be able to come in for him at the end of this season.

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