Observer EDITORIAL: Hailing a new vision in football

[Karl]

Friday, September 21, 2007
Our football - Premier League Clubs Association

The announcement that the 2006-2007 National Premier League Clubs have met and created a new entity to manage and operate a new competition among them is revolutionary as far as the organization of competitions in our football is concerned. This is the first time in our history that clubs have sat down together and taken out of the hands of our national football controlling body the operation of a national football club competition.


http://www.reggaeboyzsc.com/editorials.aspx?id=126

[Karl]

Hailing a new vision in football

Saturday, September 22, 2007


News that the fast-growing business entity, Cash Plus Group Limited, will be pumping J$150 million into the sponsorship of Premier League Football over the next three years has brought smiles to the faces of those involved in the management of the clubs and the league.
Year after year, the clubs which provide the foundation for Jamaica's football have struggled because of the scarcity of money.

We are told that the funds being provided by Cash Plus will be a significant improvement on that from the previous sponsors, J Wray & Nephew Ltd, who gave long and faithful support to Jamaica's football.
Yet, it seems, the $50 million per year that will now flow to the clubs from the new sponsorship still leaves a huge gap to be filled.

In fact, according to the chairman of the newly formed Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, a study has shown that $250 million per year is needed to cover the expenses of the league.

For those who have not been paying attention, Jamaican football is an expensive business. For example, the days when people use to play premier league football for free are over. Now players must be paid - if only a stipend.

But as those more progressive clubs which have succeeded in selling and 'loaning' players to overseas professional clubs have learnt, money can also be made.

In fact, if the cards are played correctly, Jamaican football can become a big and lucrative business. Which is where the new association, the PLCA comes into play.

We are told that in line with the trend in the professional football world, the 12 clubs in Jamaica's premier league have come together to form the PLCA, which will gradually take control of the running of the premier league. This, with the full consent of the country's governing body for football, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). The new arrangement, we are told, will leave the JFF to concentrate on its core functions - not least the management of the national programme at senior and age group levels.

Crucially, the clubs through their association will now have the responsibility to find the money to fund their league. They will negotiate contracts relating to revenue earning, including sponsorship and television rights. It will be the responsibility of the clubs individually and through their association to find creative ways to fill the massive gap referred to by Mr Seaga.

We agree with the PLCA's general secretary Mr Howard McIntosh that this is the way to go towards 'professionalisation' of the game. "The ultimate objective is true professional football in Jamaica and I think right now that is where we are headed," Mr McIntosh is reported as saying.
We hail and applaud those who showed the vision to bring about this new dimension to Jamaica's football.
Other sporting fraternities of interest to us should sit up and take note.