The long-running Dion Aiye saga seems to be reaching a conclusion.

Whitehaven’s Papua New Guinea star has been involved in a hold-up over his visa clearance for a return to Britain.

After this week’s board meeting, the Whitehaven directors emphasised that “the ball was firmly in Dion’s court.”

In a prepared statement, club chairman Tommy Todd said: “Dion has not fulfilled his obligations with the visa authorities in Papua New Guinea.

“He has missed appointments and has not taken the appropriate documents to various other appointments.

“There are no issues between the club and the Visa authorities and there is only Dion who can progress the process.

“The club can do nothing to progress it and the ball is firmly in Dion’s court.”

Aiye signed a contract to play for Whitehaven again before the end of last season.

His fellow countryman Jessie Joe Parker had also re-signed but he has been back in west Cumbria before the start of the present campaign.

Coach Carl Forster has said: “If we're going to be without him for a couple of months, we’ll probably part ways and look to spend the budget money elsewhere, but it’s a hard time of the year to look at players as there are not many available.

“It would be a massive blow to lose him at this stage of the year. We’ll just have to wait and see what the outcome of all this is.”

Forster will be catching up with old pals at Thatto Heath for their take on Saturday’s Challenge Cup defeat at West Hull.

St Helens-born Forster was hoping Thatto Heath would win the second round clash but West Hull triumphed 18-16.

The Recreation Ground side will travel on Saturday morning for the game which has a 2pm kick-off.

West Hull were losing 16-12 going into the final minute when substitute Ryan Wilson scored an equalising try.

Craig Skelton was coolness personified as his conversion earned West Hull their date with Whitehaven.