By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
FRESH ON the heels of the declaration by Linnel McLean, the president of the Trelawny FA, that he will be backing the Crenston Boxhill bid for the presidency of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), other members of the western Confederation are also taking their stances.
FOOTBALL AT A CROSS ROADS
Still a month away from the November 23rd Congress to be held at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny, it appears the four western parishes could be split in their support for Boxhill and the incumbent, Captain Horace Burrell.
George Evans, president of the St James FA and the man tipped to run as first vice-president on the Boxhill slate, told The Gleaner that "football in Jamaica was at a cross roads and it was time for a change".
His counterpart in Hanover, the only female parish president, Lorraine Scringer, has however taken a different position saying she thinks that "the timing is wrong what with the (poor state) of the JFF's finances".
Everton Tomlinson, president of the Westmoreland FA and chairman of the Western Confederation was, however ,keeping his cards very close to his chest, saying he is still to meet with his executives to "weigh the pros and cons of either side".
RENO'S POWER STRUGGLE
Tomlinson and several other executives were casualties of a power struggle at the Reno FC late last season and had the control of the former three times National Premier League champions taken from their organisation by the JFF boss in a meeting held in Montego Bay.
Evans is of the opinion that since the qualification of the national team for the World Cup finals in France in 1998, football in the country had not moved forward and the "time was right for new personnel" with ideas.
He stressed that it was not just about Boxhill, the man who will be the first to challenge Burrell in nine years, but it is the "entire team" that will seek to move the football forward.
Evans quoted the former National Technical Director Rene Simoes saying the JFF had gone about building the game the wrong way saying we were "still seeking to build from the roof down".
He is of the opinion that if Boxhill was successful, it would not mean the end of the support from the government or the private sector.
"Whoever is democratically elected will always get the support of the rest of the country, government and private sector included as it is not about personalities, as long as we have creditable people, there will be support."
He also said that from feedback they have had so far, the private sector would back them.
PRESIDENCY
He was not sure however that if Burrell should win the presidency and other members of the Boxhill team were successful in their respective posts, what would happen but said it should not be about the people but what they can bring to the table to help football move forward.
"There could be some problems" he said, "wounds will be opened by the very challenge but we need to rise above this and move on."
While said she had not had meetings with her executive on the subject, Ms Scringer said she felt confident enough in her relationship with the other members of the Hanover executive that they would vote en masse for Burrell.
She was full of praise for the work that Burrell had done in the nine years he has held the post saying "Captain has taken football from so far and put us on the world (football) map so why do we want to change now?" she asked.
Ms Scringer felt that it would be best for Jamaica's football to retain Burrell, and allow the financial situation to be improved before thinking of electing anyone else to lead the country's football.
