LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
( L - R ) BOXHILL AND BURRELL
A SOURCE within the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) says a rumoured no-confidence vote against president Crenston Boxhill at next month's Congress is unlikely to reap success.
Speaking with The Gleaner on the basis of anonymity, the source said Boxhill still has the majority support compared to that of former president Captain Horace Burrell, who the source believes started the rumour.
"For there to be a no-confidence vote, there has to be a two-third majority vote against him and that is virtually impossible," the source said.
According to the source, any challenger to Boxhill needs to secure 68 of the 104 votes to overturn him.
The Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), St. James, Trelawny, Portland and Clarendon will not support a no-confidence vote as their members are current executives in the JFF, the source said.
Second vice-president of the JFF, Linnel McLean, is also president of the Trelawny FA, general secretary Burchell Gibson is president of the Portland FA and first vice-president George Evans and third vice-president Patrick Roberts are on the board of the St. James FA and KSAFA respectively.
Those parishes already account for 44 votes. The source also said Boxhill is sure of support from the seven elected members and two Confederation chairmen, who each have a vote.
NUMBERS GAME
"It's a numbers game so once you work it out you realise there is no chance of a no-confidence vote," the source explained.
However, as in November 2003, the JFF Congress can be full of surprises. Burrell, who served as president for nine years and led Jamaica to their first World Cup qualification in 1998, was surprised by Boxhill when the counting of the ballots was completed.
In what many football pundits believe is a move to return as president of the JFF, Burrell, through his company Captain's Bakery, has sponsored a number of football competitions in several parishes.
Boxhill and Burrell have not had the best relationship since the former took office and he has accused Burrell of undermining his administration.
Boxhill admitted in an article in Tuesday's Gleaner that he has heard of the rumoured no-confidence vote.
"I've been hearing those talks for the past couple days, the last week or so," Boxhill said.
Burrell was asked to comment on the no-confidence motion in the same Gleaner story on Tuesday, but he declined, saying he was busy seeing to the opening of his new bakery and grill in Portmore and could not discuss football matters.
At the last Congress in January of this year, similar reports circulated that Boxhill would be deposed as president but that did not materialise. The source said this is another attempt to destabilize the administration.
