Adrian Frater, News Editor

Horace Reid, the former general secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation speaking at Thursday night's joint end of season presentation ceremony for the Captain's Bakery-sponsored JFF Western Confederation Super League and the Westmoreland FA. – Adrian Frater Photo

Western Bureau:

Former Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) general secretary, Horace Reid, has joined the growing list of high profile football personalities questioning the suitability of the current Crenston Boxhill-led administration to lead national football into the future.

Giving the main address at Thursday night's joint end of season presentation ceremony for the Captain's Bakery-sponsored JFF Western Confederation Super League and the Westmoreland FA Major League, Reid questioned whether or not the federation's leader should not be included in the shake-up now taking place within the JFF.

"I think I am qualified to speak openly and candidly about the state of the game in Jamaica," said Reid in his wide-ranging address. "For that reason, I wonder whether or not the much publicised overall of the technical department should not go hand in hand with a major overall of the administrative department."

Expressing similar sentiments to former national striker and coach Ali McNab and other top football personalities, who was one of the architects of Jamaica's historic qualification for the 1998 World Cup Finals in France, said the lack of success on the field cannot be divorced from the off-the-field administration.

"It has always been my fervent view that the success yearned on the field of play cannot be possible without simultaneous competence off the field," said Reid.

MAKING CHANGES

Following a spate of disastrous performances, including the national senior team's 6-0 loss to England, the JFF has been making changes to its technical department. Former national technical director Wendell Downswell and goalkeeper coach Paul Campbell are two of the casualties of the shake-up.

In rejecting some of the excuses being offered by the current administration for its current lack of progress, Reid said the previous administration faced similar situations, including the closure of the National Stadium for almost the entire year after the 2002 World Cup, but still managed to remain financially sound.

"It requires competent and astute administrators to take full advantage of the enormous opportunities around in modern football," noted Reid. "The sport requires administrators with vision to recognise and take advantage of opportunities."

In an obvious reference to the current administration's stated fears of playing home games because of the possibility of losing money, Reid said national football requires administrators with foresight to take necessary calculated risk, as most businesses do.

He noted that the JFF's affiliates probably need to start looking elsewhere for leadership, adding: "With the facts presented you can formulate your own opinions as it relates to the administrative and technical dilemma of the current state of affairs of our football product."