PLCA welcomes JFF relief
Published:Tuesday | April 14, 2020 | 12:00 AMDaniel Wheeler/Gleaner Writer
WHILE PREMIER League Clubs Association (PLCA) Chairman Mike Henry has welcomed the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) move to waive fees for the rest of the domestic football season, he says that the association will further examine the specifications of the waiver this week.
In a release on Thursday, the JFF made the decision to forgo expenses that the PLCA were due to pay to the federation for the remainder of the disrupted 2019-2020 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) season. The expenses included registration fees, contract administration fees, and disciplinary fees (yellow and red cards), which is expected to provide $6 million in relief.
In a letter addressed to Henry, JFF President Michael Ricketts expressed the hope that the measure will be able to provide clubs the ability to meet financial obligations as the league remains inactive as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
“In an effort to provide some relief for the Premier League clubs, the JFF has taken the unprecedented decision to forego on office rental, utilities, registration fees, contract administrative fees, home match levies, yellow and red card fees, etc, for the 2019-2020 season,” Ricketts said. “It is our hope that by the JFF foregoing on the above entitlements, the clubs will have a little more oxygen with cash flow in order to meet budgetary obligations.”
Henry said that the administration did not have an opportunity to fully digest the effects of the relief initiative before the Easter weekend, but will be looking to determine the ramifications when they next meet.
Internal Discussions
“I received the letter through the email from Mr Rickets. I sought to get him back on the email. I didn’t get him at this point in time. This matter is being discussed internally and we will have a meeting to clarify all the issues,” Henry told The Gleaner. “I am trying to get a meeting on Thursday for us to take the matter further.”
The RSPL has been suspended since March 12 in response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Jamaica, with four games remaining in the regular season. The PLCA reiterated its commitment in resuming the season, pending approval from the local authorities, in a directors’ meeting held on March 30.
Henry said that he has been in contact with all stakeholders and believes his administration can determine matters going forward, including finishing the current season now that they have received correspondence from the JFF.