Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Captain Horace Burrell (right), president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), speaks to David Sheepshank (left), while Edward Seaga, chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association (second left) and Michael Blood stand beside each other at a press conference at the JFF's New KIngston headquarters yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

David Sheepshanks, a member of a three-man team mediating between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) as they advance through a transitional phase, has described the situation between the two bodies as "hopeful", following two days of talks.

Last season the PLCA was formed by the clubs to change their financially burdensome year-to-year operation, which was suffering heavy losses because they were falling well short of an annual $20m budget. As a result, they went about netting their own sponsorship, something that had been done by the JFF throughout the competition's history.

Even though they never met the target, it proved better as whereas the JFF, through its major sponsor and money from television rights got its highest $30 million to run the competition and contribute to club-financing the previous season, the PLCA garnered nearly twice as much for its members.

Different philosophy

That club association was formed last season when the J.F.F. was run with Crenston Boxhill as president.

Since then, actually in November last year, Captain Horace Burrell was returned as JFF president and his administration appears to have a different philosophy - one which dictates a leading input from the federation.

Neither group has been specific as to where the bone of contention lies, but the issue seems to be one of autonomy for the PLCA as it pertains to club sponsorship and organisational structure.

Chairman of the PLCA, Edward Seaga, while acknowledging the JFF's role as head of local football, believes the league has it's own role to play.

"The role of the league is to take some of the pressure off the international body, so they can turn their attention and focus into running the competition at the international level," said Seaga, a former prime minister and leader of the opposition.

"In order for us to move in that direction there are certain things that will need to be restructured," he stated.

'No rift'

Burrell noted there is 'no rift' between the organisations and said both are working in the interest of the nation's football.

"We are all in this thing to see Jamaica's football move to the next level, and we realise that without a proper club structure that will not be possible," said Burrell, who also reiterated that the J.F.F. must be at the helm of all footballing matters.

"While most of our players ply their trade abroad we must develop professional local footballers. The JFF is all for that and there is no rift between us and the PLCA," he added.

Sheepshanks, along with David Davies and Michael Blood, arrived in the island on Wednesday with a view to lending their expertise in the establishment of a functional league model which satisfies both parties.

Sheepshanks is a former chairman of the English Football League who aided in its restructuring, Davies is a former executive director of the Football Association, a position he held for nearly 13 years, while Blood is a lawyer with specialist expertise in drafting the constitution of premier leagues.

With their combined know-how they have given advice to several countries around the world looking to establish profitable leagues.

According to Sheepshanks, the JFF-PLCA situation is not a unique one and several countries have already been through what he described as this "teething" process.

High hopes

"Countries all over the world that have looked to develop professional leagues have gone through similar processes, while the league body simply cannot exist outside of the country's football association. Certain permission needs to be given for them to operate," he explained.

"It is not an issue that will be or can be resolved overnight but based on what we are seeing here we are hopeful that it can be resolved in another couple of weeks," he added.

Sheepshanks pointed to the fact that the formation of the now highly successful English Premier League (EPL) took months of negotiation with the English Football Association. Despite not yet being able to agree to specific terms, both parties believe they have taken a step in the right direction and seem hopeful of a compromise.

The documents submitted by both parties will be taken abroad to be reviewed by the group, who are expected to come up with a solution acceptable to both parties in a matter of weeks.