By Howard Walker Observer writer Sunday, August 19, 2007
THE start of the Wray & Nephew National Premier League (NPL) is tentatively set for September 16, but could be pushed back as ongoing financial discussions and sponsorship rights are taking place between the clubs and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
The newly-formed Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), with Edward Seaga as chairman has been established to deal with the financing of the 12 member clubs from time to time. The other members of the board are Portmore's Howard McIntosh as secretary, Harbour View's Clyde Jureidini as assistant company secretary, Carvel Stewart as deputy chairman and Waterhouse's Chris Bicknell as treasurer.
A release from the clubs stated that the PLCA is pursuing discussions with a small number of selected firms to attract financial support to enable the Premier League competition to commence.
But with the JFF having already set the start of the competition for September 16, the Sunday Observer sought clarification from the PLCA, and Jureidini obliged. "We have to be careful because we don't want to discuss certain things because we're in delicate discussions with different companies," he said.
According to Jureidini, the objective is to start the right and proper way and to finish the competition professionally without wondering how to find finances during the season to pay salaries, among other expenses.
But Sunday Observer sources say the competition is being held ransom by the clubs who want to put their individual sponsors' logos on the front of their jerseys - a move which does not go down well with title sponsor Wray & Nephew. Said Jureidini: "I don't know of that, but that is something we can't discuss publicly. We're in delicate discussions with everybody, so as to who will be at the front or elsewhere, that. we can't say to anybody until we're finished."
Meanwhile, Andrew Price - Wray & Nephew's promotions and communications manager - told the Sunday Observer the situation has to be dealt with between the clubs and the JFF. "We already have our arrangements and a signed contract for the next five years with the JFF, so right now the dialogue is between the clubs and the JFF.
"We've already made it clear to the clubs and the JFF that we believe that our precedent has been set with the use of the Wray & Nephew logo affixed to the front of the jersey for the last five years and we value it as one of our biggest assets of our sponsorship investment and we want to keep the front display for ourselves as title sponsor and we have established that to both the clubs and the football federation," said Price, who is also coach of Premier League team Boys' Town. On the other hand, Price - wearing the coach's cap - conceded the idea of forming the PLCA is a good one.
"I think it's. very good because. it's an opportunity for a unified body to garner additional sponsorship which is lacking for most of the clubs and for them to achieve this. Now, how they distribute that depends on what arrangements they can make with the JFF."
JFF general secretary Burchell Gibson said the clubs have come together and indicated that the level of sponsorship and their gate receipts and other investments have been minimal. As for the fixation of the associate sponsors on the teams' jerseys, Gibson said it has always been a concern for the clubs to wear the logo of the sponsor because they think the chest is more valuable and they can garner more corporate support in that fashion.
"Just like in the English Premier League... but the clubs have other sponsors executed on the front of the jersey. But based on the request of the current sponsor, it seems to be on the contrary.
"But the clubs, the JFF and the sponsor are in discussions and some decisions will be made soon," Gibson noted.
Wow all of a sudden things getting tight for the JFF. It seems like no one want to deal with Boxhill. This should not be happening so close to the start of the season.
I have asked this question about 3 times on here....No one really answered the question on both ocasions. I asked it when this new and current contract was renewed. I was a thing started by Burrell, it made no business sense for the CLUBS prespective. So, I can see where PLCA, regardless of who started it makes great sense. I don't think the Wray and Nephew brand by itself has don't enough financially for the individual teams. The Move last year to support the CITY teams with millions of dollars for corporate JA certainly, wasn't a great idea either.
I know Wray & Nephew, is more concerned with its brand name and recieving, personal value for its money, but at some point the JFF people need to start thinking professionlly and with some foresight if the want to create an environment of professional development.
so other 'sponsors' can't find alternative means of advertising other than on the front of the T-shirt that the sponsored team wears?
how about billboards at the home grounds?
concerned about away games?
how about sponsoring a bus painted with the company logo. isn't travel one of the biggest costs? wouldn't a bus driving from town to mobay be seen by more prospective consumers than specatators at a game?
give thanks to corporate jamaica, but dem need fi start tink OUTSIDE the box. all them can give is cash???
how about facilitating the building of an academy at the clubs?
or as Karl has been saying, build stadiums and name it after the company
Humble...i think that the clubs can be moe creative with the Billboard sponsorship deals..Think outside the box
The Wray & Nephew(W&N) deal is a steal for Wray and Nephew...Any team makes it to Concacaf clud championship, and or other regional deal that requires a NPL will result in farther exposure for W&N. Its like Burrell buying the JFF presidency..REALLY.
If i'm correct, the media rights is also one company deal...so, clubs can't even sell internet video feeds, TV or radio rights.
Basically, what happen is a results of AMATURES trying to swim with the BIG DAWGS. They, had no clue what they (clubs) with Blessings of DUMB A-S-S JFF heads were leading them into.
Now you have teams with no money and stadium seating, playing in parish leagues, and others heading that way since they don't have the funds to compete in the NPL...Ain't this Crap?
Oh, humble...peeps dun a yard too busy a glorify CRAP..Naming Stadium after Politician, rather than corporate Company. Go figure?
One stadium for each FA outside of KASAFA. Any team from that FA to make it to NPL, uses that field. That will save teams like St. Georges which i read that just spent 12Mill on making their field NPL ready, yet lacking needed funds to pay players...total madness
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Words can be like baseball bats when used maliciously.
Cash Plus Jamaica Limited will be the new sponsor of the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) National Premier League (NPL) following the withdrawal of long-time sponsor J Wray and Nephew, the Sporting World understands.
Both the JFF and J Wray and Nephew released statements regarding their amicable split and that an announcement will be made shortly regarding the sponsorship of the league.
But Sporting World understands that the investment entity - which has taken the financial sector by storm - offered the JFF a deal they couldn't refuse, valued at nearly twice the $125m five-year Wray and Nephew deal.
Cash Plus could not be reached for a comment as principal owner Carlos Hill was locked up in several meetings and calls to publicist Sherina Garcia went to her voicemail. Cash Plus has recently expanded its tentacles into sports, horse racing to be exact, and has taken over the sponsorship of the prestigious Superstakes from Red Stripe.
J Wray and Nephew, title sponsor since 2002, said they have agreed to release the JFF without penalty from its binding five-year contract that was signed only last year until 2012. Andrew Price, Wray and Nephew's Brand communication and promotions manager, told Sporting World that his organisation made the decision, only in the interest of football.
Said Price: "It was an amicable discussion because we understand the plight of the clubs. We at Wray and Nephew are not able to do more than what we are doing right now. We give it our blessings."
He continued: "The discussion was to look at the whole viability of the clubs and if the clubs can garner more support than we are giving the JFF, in the interest of the development of the sport we would not come in the way.
"We decided that we would get ourselves released from the contract without a penalty so that corporate individuals who can come and assist the clubs in a more tangible way at this point in time, has the opportunity to do so," noted Price, who is also coach of premier league outfit Boys' Town.
Meanwhile, a JFF press statement said the decision of J Wray and Nephew to release them without penalty from the contract has come after months of "very amicable discussions regarding the sponsorship of the league".
"At all times during the discussions Wray and Nephew has listened to the challenges facing the clubs in respect of the level of sponsorship and has always made it clear that the company would not stand in the way if increased sponsorship was secured.
"It is against this background that the JFF accepts the position of J Wray and Nephew. The JFF would like to place on public records its appreciation.."
According to the statement, the JFF is confident that J Wray and Nephew will be a lifetime partner of Jamaica's football programme.
The NPL is scheduled to begin on September 23
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Words can be like baseball bats when used maliciously.
