Editor’s Note: The sources interviewed for this story have been kept anonymous to protect their identities and positions within the Canadian football landscape.
It’s been nearly a week since news broke that goalkeeper Triston Henry is looking to leave the reigning CPL North Star Cup winners.
Through interviews with sources close to Henry and Forge FC, this publication confirmed the situation has been unfolding since last year. Recent events — specifically Henry’s absence from Forge’s CONCACAF Champions Cup matches — brought the dispute into the public eye.
This publication has been able to confirm many of the details first reported by Northern Tribune, including Henry’s desire to leave and the nixed move to USL Championship side Memphis 901 FC. Sources have been kept anonymous to protect their identities from potential repercussions in their workplaces.
Several requests were made asking Forge for comment and clarification on events but the club declined.
The story so far
Northern Tribune was the first to break Henry’s situation, publishing an article on Feb. 10 reporting the four-time CPL champion was in a contract dispute with Forge. Henry released his own statements arguing with points made in the article.
Through our reporting, we have confirmed the vast majority of the Northern Tribune’s initial article to be accurate.
We have been told by sources that Henry informed Forge at the beginning of last season he’d like to move on. Although he had an option in his contract, it’s not unusual for clubs to waive their rights if a player asks to be let go. One of the questions posed to Forge included the confirmation of Henry saying he wanted to leave at the beginning of the 2023 campaign but the club declined to comment.
As first reported by Northern Tribune, we confirmed Henry wanted to go to the U.S. to renew his expiring green card. However, at the conclusion of the CPL playoffs, Forge opted to exercise Henry’s option and bring him back despite his wishes.
Forge held discussions with clubs throughout the CPL off-season to sell Henry, receiving a transfer offer from Memphis 901 that would allow the player to live and work in the U.S. We were unable to confirm the exact details but the deal was ultimately nixed. Again, Forge was asked about these negations but they declined to comment.
Given their impending Champions Cup matches, Forge asked players to report to Hamilton on Jan. 4 and conducted medicals on Jan. 5. Henry, we’re told, did not partake in training camp.
It was not until Forge head coach Bobby Smyrniotis told reporters that Henry would be unavailable for the club’s first leg against Chivas de Guadalajara due to “personal matters” that this publication learned of the drawn out dispute. Forge declined to comment on why they framed Henry’s contractual dispute as a personal matter.
Henry responds
Following the publication of Northern Tribune’s article, Henry released two separate statements disputing the report.
“In this troubling time I urge people to avoid speculation. Many statements in the recently published Northern Tribune article are misleading and inaccurate,” wrote Henry on his Instagram account. “We are actively working to find solutions. Please refrain from any judgement as I look to rectify this situation properly and with integrity. Thank you all for your support.”
On Feb. 11, Henry released a second statement. Specifically, he highlighted the conflict described by Northern Tribune between Forge’s clubrunner, Bob Young, and Smyrniotis. No other points in the article were mentioned.
“Please do not provide validity to any fictitious or fabricated claims,” he wrote.
What’s next for Henry?
Forge was knocked out of the Champions Cup on Tuesday night, meaning they won’t play again until the CPL kicks off on Apr. 13. That means there is roughly two months for club and player to work out their differences.
Sources note Forge still hopes to receive a transfer fee for Henry despite the dispute going public. Any permanent move is made much more difficult by the fact that training camps have already begun for MLS and USL clubs, meaning they have already tended to their needs.
A loan to a U.S. club, said one source, may be the best outcome at this time.
With clubs gearing up to play across North America, it’s believed both sides would like to see a resolution to this dispute sooner rather than later.
Cover Photo Credit: Audrey Magny
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