Ainsley Walters, Freelance Reporter

Waterhouse's Jonathan Williams (left) tackles Arnett Gardens' Gerald Neil during their Cash Plus Premier League football match at Drewsland Mini Stadium on Sunday. Waterhouse won 2-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

CAPTAIN Horace Burrell, who recently yanked the reins of the Jamaica Football Federation from Crenston Boxhill, yesterday counted his words, refusing to delve into the uncertainty now surrounding sponsorship of the Cash Plus Premier League.

With the league's title sponsor, Cash Plus Limited, issued with a 'cease and desist' order by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) last Friday, the company's three-year $150-million sponsorship of the league is in jeopardy.

Speaking from Miami in a telephone interview with The Gleaner yesterday, Burrell, who, days into his month-old administration, had to quell an earlier furore involving the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) and the outgoing JFF administration over sponsorship money, was cautious in his response over the latest development.

"I have no comments at this time. I am not in the island and will be fully briefed on my return, at which time I will speak with the relevant persons about the issue. I am due to return on Saturday with coach Rene Simoes and I will have to meet with all parties then," Burrell said when asked whether there was a contingency plan in place should the Cash Plus sponsorship fall through.

Clubs reinvested money

Cash Plus exploded on the Premier League scene with a glitzy sponsorship deal, booting Wray and Nephew Limited, which stepped aside from its $120m five-year sponsorship, crying 'no mas', unable to match Cash Plus' mega offer.

However, the PLCA, the body which negotiated the $150m three-year contract with the new Premier League title sponsor, is numbered among the investors seemingly left holding the bag in wake of the FSC's 'cease and desist order' on the Carlos Hill-led company.

Edward Seaga, chairman of the PLCA, has admitted that similar to thousands of Jamaicans who invested monies in the company, expecting minimum annual returns of 120 per cent, the association had reinvested sums collected from the sponsorship back into the investment club.

Cash Plus was already experiencing problems after commercial banks refused to honour cheques issued to investors.

Effectively shut down by the FSC, Cash Plus' latest problems could have grave implications for the Premier League as Seaga said December's payments to the PLCA have not been forthcoming.

No December payments

Seaga said if the situation persists, clubs would soon start dropping out of the country's top football league.

Meanwhile, Hill could not be reached for comment and a senior level employee, when contacted, could not say what would be the way forward for the Premier League in light of recent developments.

The employee was also not aware that the clubs had not received December's payments.

Other members of the PLCA refused to speak on the matter, referring The Gleaner to Seaga.

( L - R ) Hill, Seaga, Burrell