Wellington, New Zealand Football New Zealand says England club West Ham has refused to release defender Winston Reid to the national squad for the London Olympics.
The 23-year-old Reid was expected to be included along with Tottenham’s Ryan Nelsen and Australia-based Shane Smeltz as one of New Zealand’s three over-age players in under-23 tournament.
But chief executive Grant McKavanagh said Football New Zealand’s request to West Ham to release Reid had been declined.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said Reid was expected to take part in the London club’s pre-season tour to Germany as it prepared for its return to the Premier League.
McKavanagh said: “Naturally you want to have your best players available. But it is up to the club in the end to say yes or no.”
