Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
THE MANCHESTER Football Association (MFA) has breathed a sigh of relief as Starliner and Newgreen are set to kick of the parish's Major League season at 3:30 p.m. today.
In a meeting between the MFA and the clubs on Friday, the latter made the decision to start the season despite not having confirmed any sponsorship agreements.
MFA president Dale Spencer, while unwilling to give specifics, said the association was on the look out for potential sponsors and has received responses that looked hopeful.
"We have gotten some res-ponses. It may be a full sponsorship or it might be an assistance package to offset some of the expenses but nothing has been finalised," Spencer said.
"We are hoping that during the course of next week we can do that, but until then we still have to maintain our appeal to corporate Jamaica to help Manchester football," he said.
The MFA called the decision made by the clubs as a win for Manchester football.
"I am supportive of the decision because football has to continue and I laud the commitment of the clubs in what are trying circumstances," commented Spencer.
The MFA is not out of the woods yet however as, to date, the outstanding sponsorship of $310,000 is yet to be paid over by Dunsinane Quarry, who have failed to fulfil a two-year sponsorship deal which was to have ended last season.
In a later decision Dunsinane Quarry agreed it would pay what was due last season and would further sponsor the competition this season. In a letter to the MFA Dusinane committed themselves to clearing their arrears by March 31 of this year.
The clubs, in response to the confusion surrounding sponsorship and the delay in the start of the league had suggested that the season be cancelled and Friday's meeting was to confirm that.
The seven teams within the league will play 14 rounds comprising three games per round with one team receiving a bye in each round. After 14 rounds and 42 games, the best four teams will play in home-and-away semi-finals with the top two playing in a final of the same format.
The other two games slated for the first round will be played mid-week at a time to be announced.
