I will support football - Dehring - Businessman clears air on JFF presidency bid

Jamaican businessman Chris Dehring said his comments in a recent radio interview was taken out on context, and although he is willing to support the development of Jamaica's football in any way possible, he is not interested in running for the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) presidency.

Dehring's is one of the many names that has been circulating in the media to contest the JFF elections and replace the late JFF president Captain Horace Burrell. However, the Ready Communications CEO said he will assist any president at the helm, but he believes it will be difficult to defeat those candidates with strong football backgrounds.

"I made a statement on the radio that has been taken out of context. I said that I am willing to serve Jamaican football in any capacity, no matter who is president. I helped in 1998 on the finance committee, and I would always help the JFF and 'Capo' (Burrell) at times. So I affirmed that I would help Jamaica's football in any way, as Jamaican football has been so good to me and I can't help but give back," said Dehring.

OVERWHELMING SUPPORT

Although he has received overwhelming support since the news broke that he would be contesting the JFF elections, Dehring believes that not being deeply entrenched in the football community would affect his chances of landing the top job.

"It is very unlikely for me to be president, given that I have not worked in football circles. So it would be so far-fetched, because a president should come from within the ranks of football, and whoever that president is, I would be happy to help him and work with him," Dehring said. "I have received non-stop phone calls since news came out, and there has been no type of negatives. It has all been yes, we need that type of leadership.

"I do have a lot of experience in international sports and sports business and that would help and I think absolutely, I believe I could make a contribution (as president). But somebody is going to have the confidence of the 13 parish associations. So I would find it difficult to find that all of a sudden they have confidence in me, and that would be my valid concern," Dehring said.