Nodley Wright, Gleaner Writer
PRICE
THE WRAY and Nephew National Premier League could soon be reduced
to 11 teams as the mounting financial burden could force Boys' Town Football Club to pull out.
In this the season of cheer and goodwill, many are planning to feast and splurge while Boys' Town contemplate matters of survival.
According to Andrew Price, the technical director and the one largely credited with returning the club to the top flight after 10 years in the doldrums, they have just been unable to pay their bills and could be out of the competition as early as January 1, 2006.
"If after January 1, 2006 nothing changes, then our pull out will become a reality," Price told The Gleaner on Wednesday.
"We are in a lot of arrears with our creditors. Salaries were late last month, they have not been paid this month but we cannot continue to pay out of our pockets," said Price as he vented his frustrations adding, "we are not asking for millions. We just want some assistance."
Prior to returning to the league, the club rich in history and tradition but poor in finances was given a lot of promises and smiles but to date very little if any have resulted in anything tangible.
NO SUPPORT
"We have not been getting any support and the expenses are mounting. Corporate companies are giving to other clubs, but we are being ignored. I ask, are they more deserving than us?" Price said.
In presenting his argument for support, Price drew on the established link between sport and a reduction in crime and violence, currently the scourge of the country.
"Since the Premier League started, not even a firecracker has sounded in Trench Town. It has galvanised the community, the people have become occupied, they have something to look forward to.
"What will happen now when this is taken away? But the sad truth is that we cannot continue to pay out of our pockets," said the man who has been associated with the club for more than 20 years since his days as a schoolboy.
Price, who also wears the hats of chairman of the Jamaica Football Federation's (JFF) technical committee, said he will not attempt to use his position as promotions and communications manager at Wray and Nephew, title sponsors of the league, to solve the problem at Boys' Town.
"I am not going to use my position at Wray and Nephew to get this thing done as there are other corporate companies," he said.
PROBLEM
A big part of Boys' Town's problem is their inability to host games at Collie Smith Drive due to the absence of proper stands in place to seat 2,500 people as required by the JFF. As a result they are forced to play their home games away and that has only served to cut deeper into their meagre finances.
With one of the largest followings in the country, the club has maintained that with that in place they should be much closer to being self-sufficient.
"Right now we are completing the welding and the seats are to be put in but a lot of the money is coming out of our pockets," he explained.
Once that is done an appeal will be made to the JFF to pass the facilities to have them host matches but that could be too late.
BOYS' TOWN PRODUCTION
The West Kingston com-munity of Boys' Town has been associated with or produced people such as Fr Hugh Sherlock, O'Neil 'Collie' Smith, Bob Marley, Frank Worrell and Carl Brown.
"It is a shame for a place that has contributed so much to the country in the area of education, culture, sport and helping to shape a national identity to be in a situation such as this. Is it because we are from Trench Town?" wondered Price aloud in conclusion.
Meanwhile, at a press con-ference held yesterday by the Boys' Town administration to publicly appeal for corporate support and support from individuals, who are interested in what Price calls "saving lives", Boys' Town also announced contact numbers where the institution can be reached. Interested parties can contact Sandra Williams at 929-4119 or Lois Grant at 924-5160.
The Boys' Town organisation also announced the impending inclusion of Carl Brown into the organisation as the board has agreed to make the famous footballer and coach its organisation's chief executive officer.
Presently, Brown's first task will be to raise the about $1 million needed to finish the stands. The club also needs assistance to subsidise what is a whopping $700,000 bill.
