Wint to go with full pay?
Unverified JFF letter expresses commitment to hefty severance package
Published:Wednesday | June 8, 2022 | 12:13 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
A LETTER has been circulated suggesting Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president, Michael Ricketts, has committed to paying outgoing general secretary, Dalton Wint’s salary for the duration of his contract, which runs to December 2023.
Wint had come under pressure to resign following the Reggae Boyz troublesome trip to Suriname for a Group A Nations League game on Saturday.
The outgoing general secretary faced the brunt of the players’ wrath following poor flight arrangements and accommodations, which culminated in the team refusing to play today’s return game against the Surinamese unless he was removed.
Wint subsequently relented to the players’ demands, giving a verbal commitment to step away on Monday.
However, according to a high-ranking JFF official, who requested anonymity, it would be foolhardy for Wint to just walk away without seeking a severance package.
He admits that this could be the reason Wint had delayed making his resignation official. He also revealed that the move would not even require the board’s approval, only that of the executive.
“The sensible thing to do is force them to fire you. If they fire him they have to pay him off, and Dalton is no fool.
“I wouldn’t resign either. I would let them fire me and pay me off. So it would be an employee settlement and that does not have to come to the board anyway. All it takes is for the executive to agree on that,” said the insider.
When initially contacted, the source had no knowledge of the letter and could not authenticate its validity. Further investigations revealed the finance committee chairman Dennis Chung and vice president in charge of finances, Peter Reid, were equally oblivious to the existence of the letter.
The letter, dated June 6, 2022, to Mr Dalton Wint appeared to be signed by Ricketts.
“Upon the receipt of your resignation from the position of general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation, this letter serves to confirm the commitment of the Jamaica Football Federation to compensate you in full as per your employment agreement with the Jamaica Football Federation for the period January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023.”
If the letter is authentic, Wint’s pay-off will cost the federation more than $9million. However, it will also mean the cash-strapped JFF will be, in essence, paying two general secretaries for the period, which most observers agree the organisation cannot afford.