THE DISEASE of financial troubles which has been plaguing clubs worldwide has now begun to hit Jamaica with one club apparently folding and another having a major backer withdrawing support. Wadadah, according to an Associated Press (AP) report, yesterday announced their withdrawal from the 12-club National Premier League through manager Gene Grey. Grey, the report said, was pulling the club because he was unable to "buy equipment, pay player salaries and meet rental fees" for their home field, Jarrett Park. "I will be informing the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) about our decision to withdraw from the competition after meeting with other members of the executive body," Grey was quoted as saying of the club which once dominated the local league and won the title in 1987 and 1992. Seba United, also former two-time champions, are also finding things difficult as, according to a report published over the weekend, one of their financial backers, Orville Powell, withdrew his financial support and the use of a house for the club as the players "lacked commitment". Unlike Wadadah, Seba, the club of national representatives, Theodore Whitmore and Ian Goodison, will not withdraw. Club chairman Bruce Gaynor, while admitting that players were not pulling their weight and others were complaining of fatigue, said they would not pull out of the league. As far as the president of the St. James Football Association, George Evans, was concerned, the plight of those clubs was no surprise. "If you looked at the way they have managed their affairs over the past four to five seasons, then one would not be surprised," Evans said. "Each season they have struggled to survive. There seems to be nothing viable in terms of management, development, youth programme and business plans. As a consequence, there was only one way it was going to end," he said. Evans also blamed the style of management and ownership for the downfall and impending downfall of the clubs. "Sadly, the perception - rightly or wrongly - is that Wadadah is a one-man band. That style of leadership, management or even ownership is long past in the annals of football in this country."