By Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterGENERAL SECRETARY of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Horace Reid, yesterday gave notice that he will be following his former president and good friend Captain Horace Burrell out of office.
Burrell was yesterday deposed by Crenston Boxhill at the JFF congress, which took place at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny. Reid, who like Burrell, played a key role in Jamaica's football successes under Burrell's leadership said he will he tendering his resignation today.
"Effective tomorrow (today) I will tender my resignation to Mr Boxhill," Reid said at the end of his well-delivered speech.
His decision, he indicated, came not because he would not be retained as many thought, but to allow Boxhill to choose his own man.
"I think it is very important that he (Boxhill) be given every opportunity to select the administrator that he would like to work with, with the programmes that he and his team have designed," Reid said.
He also wished the new person all the best and reminded all that it was not the personalities in football who were important but the football product.
Before making clear his intention to resign, Reid paid tribute to the work of his colleague and friend Captain Horace Burrell.
"Let me use this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude and pleasure in working with the outgoing administration. I have great amount of respect for the outgoing president, Captain Horace Burrell. It is my view that under his leadership we have seen tremendous strides in Jamaica's football," said Reid.
"It is also my view that he has given our football a very sound and solid foundation to work from and I think that Jamaica's football indeed owes a great debt of gratitude to Captain Horace Burrell," he continued.
TOUGH FIGHT
He also congratulated the new administration of Boxhill and his team.
"Let me commend him on the victory and also to say that they made a very tough fight and are now the victors. Congratulations."
Showing his love for the sport and the wish to see continuity, Reid called on the "wider football family to give him all their support." He also said a process of healing and a reuniting of the football family needs to take place and "there is a lot of work to be done."
"While no one will ask or request that the current or new administration not take some time to celebrate which you must - we still have a football product to build. I am sure that Mr Boxhill will recognise that and that the work will commence at its soonest," Reid advised.
