Tobago Football Association (TFA) president Anthony Moore has said major restructuring in the sport of football in T&T has accounted for many concerns.
Football officials and executives expressed their concerns to the Sunday Guardian yesterday, as many of their positions are being advertised by the T&T Football Association (TTFA).
It is understood the position of general secretary of the TTFA and manager of the national senior team are two of many currently being advertised on caribbeanjobs.com that is destined to leave many officials jobless.
The position of coach of the Under-17 team also appears to have been decided already, although board members see it as nonsensical. There are reports which suggest that former national midfielder Russell Latapy is the preferred choice for T&T U-17 coach, a position held previously by Ken Elie up to last month.
It is understood all positions, except that of national senior coach, being held by Stephen Hart, will be up for grabs soon.
Yesterday, William Wallace, manager of the Soca Warriors team, said they were told about the restructuring two months ago, but were not informed of when and where the advertisements were taking place. “Because of this I was denied the opportunity to re-apply as I could not follow it, as it was not in any of the dailies. I only found out my position was advertised on caribbeanjobs.com from someone recently.”
Meanwhile, the Sunday Guardian understands that the general secretary, Azaad Khan, is sure to lose his position in the restructuring, as rumours circulate his position is being reserved for Michelle Lynch, the assistant general secretary at the TTFA, which is a position created under the new David John-Williams-led administration.
One board member questioned the appointment of Latapy as the football association has been unable to pay Elie.
Attempts to contact third vice president of the TTFA, Joanne Salazar, proved futile yesterday as called went to her cell phone unanswered, but Moore, in attempting to clear the air, revealed that efforts to restructure the organisation and bring it in line with FIFA, has led to many concerns.
He said coming out of a report from two recognised accounting and auditing firms, the football association had been advised to take critical steps to achieve FIFA’s mandate for the sport in T&T. “On the heals of FIFA’s mandate to amend the constitution of the TTFA and the other regional associations, people feel that was the only change needed.
Well there are other major changes required of us, particularly to deal with the strengthening of our management committee, which refers to the people dealing with the day-to-day affairs of the TTFA,” Moore explained.
He noted the world governing body for football, wants to see the sport move to its commercial side. He claims football in T&T has been operated purely on one pillar, the senior national team, when it should be six pillars.
Moore admitted the football association has been tardy with respect to communication but believes all will benefit once the changes are in place.