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Seaga makes strong defence of PLCA
by Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) chairman Edward Seaga (left) outlines cutbacks for the Premier League during a press conference at the main library at the University of the West Indies yesterday. At right is Carvel Stewart, vice-chairman of the PLCA. - LeVaughn Flynn
EDWARD SEAGA, chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), yesterday said the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) used "ridicu-lous conclusions" in denying the organisation $10 million in assistance, resulting in the abandonment of prize money and an awards function for this season's troubled Premier League.
The PLCA chairman was speaking at a press conference held on the ground floor of the main library at the University of the West Indies yesterday.
Despite the fallout from sponsor, Cash Plus Limited, the troubled alternative investment scheme, which was recently declared bankrupt, leaving the league out of pocket by $28 million, Seaga, accompanied by vice-chairman Carvel Stewart of Harbour View Football Club, defended the PLCA, describing it as a success in garnering record sponsorship for the premiership and Under-21 league.
by Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) chairman Edward Seaga (left) outlines cutbacks for the Premier League during a press conference at the main library at the University of the West Indies yesterday. At right is Carvel Stewart, vice-chairman of the PLCA. - LeVaughn Flynn
EDWARD SEAGA, chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), yesterday said the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) used "ridicu-lous conclusions" in denying the organisation $10 million in assistance, resulting in the abandonment of prize money and an awards function for this season's troubled Premier League.
The PLCA chairman was speaking at a press conference held on the ground floor of the main library at the University of the West Indies yesterday.
Despite the fallout from sponsor, Cash Plus Limited, the troubled alternative investment scheme, which was recently declared bankrupt, leaving the league out of pocket by $28 million, Seaga, accompanied by vice-chairman Carvel Stewart of Harbour View Football Club, defended the PLCA, describing it as a success in garnering record sponsorship for the premiership and Under-21 league.
Banking sources
Seaga said of the $28 million, which the PLCA needed to complete the season, $8 million was in the process of being secured from a "banking" source whereas it was prepared to forego $10 million, which was projected to be paid out to the 12 Premier League teams and the PLCA for operational expenses.
Seaga said of the $28 million, which the PLCA needed to complete the season, $8 million was in the process of being secured from a "banking" source whereas it was prepared to forego $10 million, which was projected to be paid out to the 12 Premier League teams and the PLCA for operational expenses.
However, the PLCA had high hopes of securing the remaining $10 million from the SDF to fund prize money and the annual awards function.
"Had there been a representative of the PLCA at the meeting to decide on that $10 million, I am confident we would've got it," he said.
"Nobody from the PLCA was invited and they came to some ridiculous conclusions, one of which was the SDF had never bailed out anybody, which is not true as the Jamaica Football Federation has, in the past, received sums of money from the SDF.
"Had there been a representative of the PLCA at the meeting to decide on that $10 million, I am confident we would've got it," he said.
"Nobody from the PLCA was invited and they came to some ridiculous conclusions, one of which was the SDF had never bailed out anybody, which is not true as the Jamaica Football Federation has, in the past, received sums of money from the SDF.
"Secondly, they said the PLCA was a private body, which is also not true, as the PLCA is a part of the JFF," Seaga pointed out.
Contacted last night, Ludlow Watts, general manager of the SDF, declined comment and referred Star Sports to chairman David Mais.
"He is best able to speak on this matter," said Watts. Calls to Mais were directed to voice mail.
"He is best able to speak on this matter," said Watts. Calls to Mais were directed to voice mail.
Jumping to the defence of the PLCA, which has been criticised for what some pundits have described as pushing former sponsor Wray and Nephew out of the picture to sign a lucrative $150 million three-year deal with Cash Plus, Seaga said the organisation had no option as no other entity was willing to put up $50 million per year.
Describing the criticisms as perceptions and misunder-standings, Seaga said had it not been for the assistance of Cash Plus, the possibility existed that the Premier League would have been abandoned as clubs were not happy with the former sponsorship and had planned to boycott the league this season.
"On that basis, the clubs got together and formed the PLCA as they were dissatisfied with the proceeds from the previous sponsorship, $7 million for the season, from a total package of $24 million.
"The JFF agreed we could take over the sponsorship and we tried a number of big companies. We set a target of $100 million and talked with five major companies the only one of which to come forward was Cash Plus."
Seaga said the PLCA recognised that Cash Plus was risky and had started discussions with then finance minister Dr Omar Davies to have the proceeds from the Prime Time Bingo, Supreme Ventures Limited game, to go towards football. This, he said, never happened due to red tape, leaving the PLCA without a back-up when Cash Plus caved in under pressure from the Financial Services Commission to regularise its operations.
"Cash Plus was not the prime player, it was an accident along the way," he said.
"Cash Plus was not the prime player, it was an accident along the way," he said.
Seaga said the PLCA realised more than $60 million in sponsorship for both the Premier and Under-21 leagues, much more than the $6-7 million per year under Wray and Nephew Limited.
"Sponsorship funding for the Under-21s, from Coca Cola, was $24 million, added to $50 million from Cash Plus for the Premier League is $74 million plus $6 million for television rights and an arrangement with Digicel to refurbish the ground floor of the JFF, to be used as an office for the PLCA, worth $8 million in addition to the $8 million expected from another source.
Huge success
"That's not a failure, that's a huge success," Seaga said.
Stewart said the clubs benefited from ball sponsorship and other sponsorship in kind.
Stewart said the clubs benefited from ball sponsorship and other sponsorship in kind.
The Harbour View chairman also pointed out that each club has or will directly receive $2.8 million, $33.6 million in total.
"That's four times more than any sponsorship we've ever received," he said.
"That's four times more than any sponsorship we've ever received," he said.
However, neither PLCA executive could say where funds would be accessed for the 2008-2009 season, which enters its pre-season almost immediately after the current season ends mid-May.
"We'll be doing that during the summer," said Stewart. "We've had a number of enquiries from interested parties, including one from abroad," he added.
"We'll be doing that during the summer," said Stewart. "We've had a number of enquiries from interested parties, including one from abroad," he added.
"What we're doing now is setting up the PLCA," he said, referring to plans to have the organisation resume total responsibility for the upcoming season.
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