SWINDON Town Football Club has been dealt a financial blow after former goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott was ruled out of the World Cup with a finger injury on Monday.

The Charlton Athletic goalkeeper was set to be announced in Ghana’s 26-man squad for the tournament in Qatar, but for a cruel twist of fate on the eve of the tournament.

Last weekend, while Jonny Williams was absent from Swindon’s squad to face Tranmere Rovers in League Two, Wollacott was named in the Addicks’ squad away to Burton Albion.

In the pre-match warm-up at the Pirelli Stadium, the 26-year-old caught a ball on the end of his finger and was forced to watch the 3-3 draw from the stands as Craig MacGillivray filled in between the posts.

Charlton boss Ben Garner had initially hoped it was only a minor injury which would have allowed Wollacott to join up with Ghana’s squad early this week.

But the Black Stars’ official announcement, made by head coach Otto Addo on Monday, all but confirmed the injury would keep the 26-year-old out of action for at least a number of weeks.

Ghana were already ruing their luck after fellow gloveman Richard Ofori was also prevented from being a part of the county’s line-up through injury late last week.

The Black Stars will face South Korea, Portugal, and Uruguay in Group H as they look to upset the odds and secure qualification through to the knock-out stages.

While the news is likely to be heart-breaking for Wollacott, Swindon’s officials will also be frustrated as the club will miss out on claiming around £52,000.

Clubs who lose players to the World Cup – and any player who has been registered with a team in the two years prior to the World Cup – will be eligible for a share of the daily pay-out from FIFA.

The game’s global governing body confirmed details of its club benefits programme last month, announcing 209 million dollars (around £189million) had been set aside.

FIFA anticipates that the scheme will mean a payment of 10,000 US dollars (just over £9,000) per player for each day he remains with his national team at the World Cup itself and during the official preparation period.

Town were due to receive at least £157,000 from Williams’ and Wollacott’s respective achievements in total, but the figure Swindon will be able to claim will now depend entirely on Wales’ fortunes in the Middle East.