Audley Boyd, Assistant Sports Editor

Milutinovic

THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) appears set to terminate the contract of technical director Velibor 'Bora' Milutinovic, thus clearing the way for the return of Brazilian René Simoes.

It has been rumoured for some time that Captain Horace Burrell has been in discussions with Simoes, who was technical director when Jamaica made its only appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals France '98.

Captain Burrell, who began his second tenure as president of the JFF, at its voting congress on Sunday, told journalists covering a press conference at its St. Lucia Crescent, New Kingston headquarters, following a six-hour board meeting yesterday evening, that they had made a conclusive decision on a technical matter that had to do with coach Bora.

Burrell declined to state the board's final position, but made it clear he would make the decision public as soon as he had spoken with Milutinovic.

Also, well-informed sources in the JFF admitted secretly that the decision had been made to sever ties with Milutinovic.

Captain Burrell said: "The new board, having met on two occasions ... has taken a unanimous decision on the issue of technical director, the details of which I cannot reveal at this time until I speak to Mr. Bora.

"It's a very important matter and we've to deal with this matter professionally."

No definitive answer

Captain Burrell was asked specifically if Milutinovic's contract had been terminated, but he did not give a definitive answer.

"I'm not telling you that we've dismissed Mr. Bora," he offered. "We have a definitive position. As soon as I've spoken with coach Bora, I'll make the decision public."

The refusal of the generally forthright Captain Burrell to state whether Milutinovic, who resides in Mexico, will retain his position, seems to have convinced many that the Serbian-born coach would be removed.

Milutinovic was employed almost a year ago and came with glittering credentials, having coached five different nations at FIFA World Cup Finals. But under his watch, Jamaica's FIFA rankings have plummeted to a record low 103.

He was contracted to the federation at US$1 million a year and if he is fired, there are implications of a pay-out for the remaining three years of his contract by the cash-strapped JFF, which, its financial bosses said, according to preliminary investigations, is now indebted at a staggering $77.5 million.