Speaking to journalists following the final of the Digicel Caribbean Championships on Sunday, in which Jamaica defeated Grenada 2-0, Burrell, who projected that even before an estimate was done, the JFF is likely to face a $28 million deficit, said changes to staff complement was on the horizon.

"The federation, as we speak, is struggling financially. In order to cut back on some of our expenses, we will have to make some tough decisions by laying off staff and asking people to offer their services voluntarily," said Burrell, shortly after expressing gratitude for the US$120,000 gained by the Boyz for winning the championship. "It is not an easy decision to make, but a necessary one, this at a time when we are strapped for cash."

The JFF's financial woes sharpened with the Reggae Boyz failure to advance in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign past the semi-final stage.

Lost revenues

The Boyz, after failing to gather enough points on the road under René Simoes, who was at the helm when the country made its historic World Cup Finals appearance in 1998, were edged out of the 2010 campaign by Mexico, on goal difference, after both teams ended on 10 points.

According to Burrell, the team's elimination cost the JFF approximately $150 million ($30m per game) in revenue, which would have been garnered from home games during the final round of qualifiers, as well as a US$5 million bonus from FIFA for qualifying.

Should Burrell follow through on his promises, it would be the second time in less than two months the JFF would be axing or putting workers on a volunteer list, as in mid-November, shortly after the Reggae Boyz bowed out of the World Cup qualifiers, a similar exercise occurred.

According to Burrell, the JFF presently has 27 people on its technical staff payroll.

- Jermaine Lannaman