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BOXHILL and BURRELLNodley Wright, Gleaner Writer
Today's annual Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) congress to be held at Munro College in St Elizabeth is expected to be a fiery one, especially with moves afoot by a pro-Captain Horace Burrell faction to raise a vote of no-confidence against the Crenston Boxhill-led administration.
Another issue which could add more fire to this event which starts at 10:00 a.m. is the recent disclosure of a letter from the world's governing body for football, FIFA, which blasts the JFF for their handling of matters relating to the football academy set to be hosted just yards from today's congress.
Normally a meeting such as this one would be tamer as the major issue would be the presentation of the financial statement by the treasurer for the congress to accept or reject. There have not been many rejections of financial statements.
financial statements
The presentation of the financial statements would follow the president's address on the agenda and precede the appointment of scrutineers to report on the already circulated minutes from the previous congress.
Also on the agenda would be the appointment or re-appointment of auditors. KPMG Peat Marwick have been the federation's auditors for over six years, and they are expected to be retained.
With the matter of the auditors out of the way, the previously submitted questions from the parish associations will be addressed by the president, general secretary and the treasurer. The floor would then be open for any other business.
That running order could, however, be altered with the raising of the vote of no confidence as the membership could request the suspension of the standing order and bring another matter forward. The president, at his discretion, could either accept or reject such a suggestion.
If the vote of no-confidence is raised then those opposing the administration will need a two-third support to recall the existing administration. With 104 people eligible to vote, 70 will have to support the vote for it to succeed.
This is the second occasion on which, Boxhill who defeated Captain Horace Burrell in 2003 and is heading into his third year in office, has had to face such a threat. Just under a year ago at the last February's non-voting congress in Portland there was talk of a similar move.
This year, however, the prospects seem more real with Everton Tomlinson of West-moreland, Danny Beckford of St Ann and Dale Spencer of Manchester declaring their intention to support the move, while St Catherine's long-serving president, Lincoln 'Happy' Suther-land has made no secret of his position.
Tomlinson, also the chairman of the Western Confederation and a former supporter of Boxhill, said that his parish association is fully behind a vote of no-confidence.
"As far as Westmoreland is concerned, once the no-confidence motion is moved, then we will be supporting it," said Tomlinson, who in addition to expressing, disappointment in Boxhill's leadership accused the JFF of meddling in parish elections.
Beckford who has hit out both in the electronic media and the printed press said that in addition to having no confidence in the current administration, there were some within the body having a similar view.
concerns
"There is a lot of concern also at the level of confidence from the very same people who (either) worked or will still work at the JFF... in one year the treasurer resigned, our high profile finance committee has resigned, our executive officer has resigned," said Beckford himself no stranger to questions about his stewardship.
Meanwhile, Captain Burrell seen by many as the man behind the scenes pulling the strings has fended off suggestions that he is the puppeteer.
"If a request was made by the delegates I would have no reservation or hesitation in accepting the challenge once again," Burrell told The Gleaner on Friday in response to questions about him resuming leadership of the JFF .
Boxhill remains confident that a no-confidence motion is out of place based on what his administration has achieved. It is his belief , he said, that the proposed move has nothing to do with football, but with other people's selfish interests.
"This (vote) is all about one individual who is stirring it and as far as I am concerned it has nothing to do with football. It is all about him and his interests.
"If you look at what we have achieved in the last two years under financial constraints you would have to say that such a move (no-confidence vote) is without merit," Boxhill told The Gleaner on Friday.
