Despite their relegation, 'enemies' may have have sworn never to let the five time Nigeria Champions be with unknown ex staff of the club allegedly masterminding illegal transfer and clearance of players of the Naze Millionaires to other clubs, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The latest is the alleged transfer of Emmanuel Nwabufor to El-Kanemi Warriors with the Clearance letter in the club's old letter headed paper which triggered suspicion by the NPFL who latter called Heartland to verify the authenticity of the transfer document.

Checks reveal that upon assumption of office, the new leadership of Heartland, in keeping with best professional practices, effected changes in the club's documents and signatories to reflect the current portfolios in the once dreaded 'Scientific Soccer' side.

Heartland, last season, assembled a squad of green-horns in a regenerative program embarked upon by the Emmanuel Amuneke, MFR, leadership of the club.

The program, it was gathered, was meant to ensure that the young players grew with the team in a few seasons to form a formidable team.

The program would also ensure that the club built a bank of formidable team of young players which will ensure they reduced cost in terms of buying players season in, season out.

Above all, the players could grow to become attractive to European clubs which in turn will fetch the 'Arugo Club' substantial funds in foreign exchange.

But unfortunately, will the players were just getting used to the new modern trends in the game, other established clubs have found the club a major recruitment ground following the club's relegation to the second tier league at the close of the 2024/2025 NPFL season.

More worrisome to Heartland is the fact that most of these transfers to other clubs do not conform to the best professional process.

And unfortunately, these recruiting clubs like cutting corners with agent or intermediaries of the players without recurse to the FIFA Club-to-club transfer rules.

"We don't stop players from moving to other clubs but the important thing is for the recruiting clubs to strictly adhere to the FIFA transfer rules whereby the recruiting clubs get in touch with the player's current club to first ascertain the status of the player's contract, atleast, to know if he had an existing contract or not", an official of Heartland voiced.

"Besides, a club that developed such player shouldn't be left in the dark as regards the player's departure".

The case of Emmanuel Nwabufo is one out of many but becomes pronounced following the fact that the transfer smarks of 'fraud' since it was alleged that the clearance letter was with club's old letter headed paper.

Secondly, it was alleged that the clearance document was signed by someone unknown to the current management staff, ostensibly an ex management staff of the club.

This is one in the many such deals that have in the past cast the club in dark light and robbed it huge financial benefits.

Promise Nwachukwu, former General Manager of the club was quick to was his hands from the 'illegal' and 'fraudulent' transfer deal.

Nwachukwu's denial followed revelation from the league body that Heartland player, Nwabufo, has been issued a clearance letter with the club's old letter-headed paper with fingers being pelted in the direction of the club's former management headed by the fair-skinned former Nigeria junior International.

Emmanuel Nwabufo was alleged to have been cleared from 'behind' by former Heartland management egg heads using the club's old letter-headed papers.

"I just saw your message now. I don't even know the player you are talking about", Nwachukwu said. 

"I have moved on with my life please. All these things are mere distractions to me as far as I'm concerned.

"Ask the player if he knows me", the ex Heartland GM said.

The salient question remains, who issued the clearance? How many of such clearances has such 'ghost' clearance agent issued in the past and how much has Heartland lost in such deals?

We're getting to know these now because a 'Sherif' is in town. A 'Sherif' who has chosen, in his nature, to ensure transparency and honesty in his administration for the good of the team and Imolites.

Who are these 'enemies' of Heartland who have sworn never to allow the club be except they lined their individual pockets to the detriment of the club, Imo State Government and the citizens of Imo State?