Laylor unsure about future ahead of KSAFA decision
Published:Sunday | October 9, 2022 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
REAL MONA coach David Laylor said without the possibility of competing in the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Tier Two league, he will not continue as coach of the club.
Real Mona defeated Meadforest for the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA) Championship League title last weekend and became the parish’s representative for the JFF Tier Two competition.
KSAFA football clubs had refused to compete in the inaugural Tier Two league, staged this year, and as a result forfeited Corporate Area clubs’ chances of qualifying for this season’s Jamaica Premier League (JPL).
Laylor revealed that Real Mona’s management was looking at the variables and was contemplating if participation was feasible.
However, he insists that if there is no higher league for his team to advance to, it makes no sense for him to continue in the KSAFA competition.
“The (Mona) management team is thinking about it (Tier Two) and doing some planning to see whether or not they can afford to enter.
“It is a ‘no man’s land’ league. There is no sponsorship or support for that league. But the management has discussed it and is looking to see if it is viable at this particular time.
“But like everything else in life, if you are not progressing you are wasting time and for me I will not play the KSAFA league anymore, if there’s no progression,” he said.
He pointed out that players would also become disillusioned and look towards the JPL or even the Tier Two to fast-track their careers.
“It (KSAFA league) will be like a corner league with no progression. These clubs have a lot of young players and they will lose them. Premier League coaches come to the games to find talent and there are a few on my team. Management will have problems keeping them in January.
“So if the team’s not progressing and the club is not progressing, then that is it for me. And I think it will be the same for many players,” he reasoned.
NO SPONSOR
Last season the Tier Two tournament had no sponsor and Laylor insists league organisers, JFF, need to bridge the gap between parish competitions and the Premier League, while noting that these tournaments have garnered very little attention or support over the years.
“How are you going to run a league that isn’t sponsored. So the reality is on one side, as it is on the other side also.
“You might get more highlight playing in the KSAFA league than Tier Two. So the JFF should be doing more for that middle ground, Tier Two league.
“Seek some sponsorship or present it to FIFA and get funding for it. If it is even to just support the teams with travelling, that would take a chunk off our expenses.
“So unless your parish FA is going to take care of you or you have private sector coming in, it will be a struggle because it is going to cost over $5 million to play in that league on your own without sponsors. So they must come to terms with each other and work it out,” he said.
KSAFA president, Wayne Shaw, admitted some clubs had shown an interest in Tier Two participation and that they will meet to decide the way forward.
“It was the clubs that decided not to enter Tier Two last season. So we will put it to them to see if they want to play.
“So we will meet and decide if they want to play or they don’t want to, as it was a decision by the clubs not the council. So they will make that decision going forward,” he stated.
KSAFA clubs refrained from the competition largely because they anticipated the cost of participation would be overwhelming, especially with the added factor of COVID-19.
However, Shaw pointed that the federation had received funding from world governing body FIFA, and he estimates that more support will be given to lower tier competitions.
“Next season will be a new one. The JFF has more funds from the FIFA deal, so things should be different. We expect more money to be pumped into all leagues next season.
“I can’t say how they (clubs) will decide. There are some who want to play but I have to wait until we meet to sit and sort it out. But once we have a decision, that is what we will do moving forward,” Shaw commented.