JFF to discuss English FA debt - Burrell expected to be served with summons for balance incurred by Boxhill team

Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

THE JAMAICA FOOTBALL Federation (JFF) top brass is expected to decide today on how to proceed in the matter regarding English-based event management firm, NVA Manage-ment, after bailiffs were sent to the federation's New Kingston secretariat last Thursday to settle a £10,366.75 (J$1,492,812.00) claim.

The meeting is also expected to reveal the findings of a forensic audit ordered by JFF president, Captain Horace Burrell, relating to issues concerning the monies owed and other matters.

Last year, the JFF was ordered by a Central London County Court to settle the claim brought against them by the company for outstanding payments from ticket sales for the Jamaica vs England and Jamaica vs Ghana football practice matches - on Jamaica's forgettable tour of England in 2006.

At the time, Crenston Boxhill, was the JFF president.

NVA was contracted to provide several services on behalf of the JFF during the tour, which saw Jamaica suffering heavy defeats to Ghana and England.

Forensic audit

A local collection agency was recently contracted by NVA Management to act in its interest and a representative visited the JFF offices last Thursday with documentation relating to the issue.

He was unable to meet with members of the JFF hierarchy, who were all unavailable at the time.

Burrell, to whom a summons is expected to be served due to his capacity as head of the beleaguered organisation, had ordered a forensic audit immediately after the incident, which saw monies from ticket sales not paid over to the English Football Association.

"This is a very serious matter which carried with it a lot of implications. We are having a meeting tomorrow (today) and we will discuss the whole matter. This is serious business, the Federation has been sued and there may be a summons for my arrest as its president," Burrell stressed.

"This is, to say the least, very frightening. This whole situation is extremely unfortunate," he added.

General secretary Horace Reid, who admitted to not having all the details surrounding the matter, also pointed to today's meeting as crucial and is anticipating certain decisions to be taken by the executive.

Said Reid: "Tomorrow (today) the board will meet but at this point I cannot say how the matter will be dealt with. I am not the JFF so I cannot pre-empt the decision that will be taken.

"We will all be updated at that time on the sequence, so to speak, and based on whatever information is provided, the board will decide what to do and what not to do. For now I cannot pre-empt the board and neither can I say what NVA will be doing either," Reid added.