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Unless there is some exceptional intervention, the Digicel National Premier League is unlikely to get underway this Sunday, a reliable source has told JamaicaWin.com.
While the first postponement was due to the passage of Tropical storm Gustav, this new postponement might become necessary due to an administrative standoff between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA).
Over the last two months negotiations between both bodies surrounding the administration of the competition have not progressed sufficiently and the JFF is not prepared to start the season without the signing of a formal management agreement.
“They (the PLCA) believe that they own the League,” a senior member of the JFF told JamaicaWin.com on condition of anonymity. “Until they realise who are the owners of the league, we are going to have a problem.”
However, others believe that the JFF is playing hard ball.
“The JFF is coming up with a new clause every week,” the source told JamaicaWin.com. “They want to control the League remotely and this is no longer possible. It’s about time they realise that there is a new dispensation and the clubs will no longer sit by and take whatever they dish out.”
There was some disquiet and a threat to the continuation of the 2007-2008 competition at the back end of the season when then sponsor Cash Plus folded, leaving the PLCA cashless. The year-old PLCA was given a lifeline by a cash injection from the Sports Development Foundation and National Commercial Bank.
A three-man team of experts from England were invited to the island by the PLCA to offer guidance and consultation on the way forward. Their recommendations have been the basis for the negotiations which have now virtually stalled.
The new season was originally scheduled to get start two weeks earlier, but was postponed due to the passage of Tropical storm Gustav. Many teams were unable to train for a period of time and the dislocations suffered by some clubs forced organisers to set the new date for September 14.
The PLCA recently signed off on a new three-year agreement with telecommunications giant Digicel valued at $150 million.
A meeting was scheduled for Thursday evening at the JFF to find a resolution.
While the first postponement was due to the passage of Tropical storm Gustav, this new postponement might become necessary due to an administrative standoff between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA).
Over the last two months negotiations between both bodies surrounding the administration of the competition have not progressed sufficiently and the JFF is not prepared to start the season without the signing of a formal management agreement.
“They (the PLCA) believe that they own the League,” a senior member of the JFF told JamaicaWin.com on condition of anonymity. “Until they realise who are the owners of the league, we are going to have a problem.”
However, others believe that the JFF is playing hard ball.
“The JFF is coming up with a new clause every week,” the source told JamaicaWin.com. “They want to control the League remotely and this is no longer possible. It’s about time they realise that there is a new dispensation and the clubs will no longer sit by and take whatever they dish out.”
There was some disquiet and a threat to the continuation of the 2007-2008 competition at the back end of the season when then sponsor Cash Plus folded, leaving the PLCA cashless. The year-old PLCA was given a lifeline by a cash injection from the Sports Development Foundation and National Commercial Bank.
A three-man team of experts from England were invited to the island by the PLCA to offer guidance and consultation on the way forward. Their recommendations have been the basis for the negotiations which have now virtually stalled.
The new season was originally scheduled to get start two weeks earlier, but was postponed due to the passage of Tropical storm Gustav. Many teams were unable to train for a period of time and the dislocations suffered by some clubs forced organisers to set the new date for September 14.
The PLCA recently signed off on a new three-year agreement with telecommunications giant Digicel valued at $150 million.
A meeting was scheduled for Thursday evening at the JFF to find a resolution.
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