Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

( L - R ) Howell, Taylor

Harbour View defender Jermaine Taylor and Waterhouse midfielder, Hugh Howell will know which clubs they must represent in this season's National Premier League (NPL), following a meeting with officials of their respective clubs and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) today.

The duo, who have been in and out of the national set-up since Rene Simoes' return, are seeking permission to join St Georges and Meadhaven United and according to reports, they have not been involved in pre-season training with the clubs to which they are under contract.

Taylor, who played a key role in Jamaica's recent 1-1 draw with Canada in the first match of semi-final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, is from Portland, the parish of St Georges.

Qualifying matches

Howell, who toured Brazil and was a recent invitee to the national set-up for the first round qualifying matches against The Bahamas, played his youth football at Meadhaven under the late David Hunt and now that the club has qualified for the big times, wants to return home.

"We have received complaints about two players who want to leave their clubs and have scheduled a meeting with both parties to try to bring an end to the dispute," said JFF vice-president Raymond Anderson, who is slated to chair the meeting.

He added: "It is not the first time as every year their are different cases. But we happy to play a role as at the end of the day we want everybody to be happy," he added.

Club officials, in the meantime, were somewhat tentative.

"The meeting is tomorrow and before that I would not want to make a comment," said Harbour View Football Club general manager, Clyde Jureidini.

"We have already made a statement about the issue (in the media) and would not want to say anything that might affect the discussions," he added.

Waterhouse president, Peter Hibbert, said: "As far as I know the club's postion is that we have a contract with this player and we going to the meeting to see how the authorities deal with the siutation," he said. "If he is to stay, he stays, if he is to go, he goes."

The competition is set to kick off on Sunday with six matches, with champions Portmore United slated to tackle promoted Rivoli United at Ferdie Neita Park in the feature match. In other matches, Tivoli Gardens will face first-timers Meadhaven at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, Arnett Gardens will tackle Boys' Town at Cling Cling Oval, Sporting Central will play Village at Brancourt, Reno will travel to Harbour View, while Waterhouse will welcome the Geoffery Maxwell-coached St Georges, at Drewsland.