Schafer's severance deal agreed with JFF

General secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Raymond Grant confirmed with STAR Sports yesterday that an agreement has been reached with outgoing national senior team coach Winfried Schaefer and his legal representatives on his severance package after he was removed from his position following a miserable World Cup qualifying campaign.

The German tactician, who is being represented by Queen's Counsel KD Knight in the separation negotiations, failed in his bid to lead the Reggae Boyz to a second World Cup Final following the nation's appearance at the 1998 Finals in France. The Jamaicans struggled to a last-place finish in the semi-final stage of CONCACAF, qualifying with a single win, while scoring the least (two), and conceding the most (10) goals in their six games.

Fee not yet paid

Grant, as expected, was not able to divulge too much detail on the deal but shared that both parties had agreed on a fee to be paid to the coach, who still had two years remaining on his contract with the JFF, while adding that this figure was yet to be paid by the JFF.

"We are still discussing with a view to finalising," said Grant. "We have not yet paid the fee. We are at a point where we understand what is to be paid. We have agreed on the amount, we have just not paid it as yet."

"I cannot say much more than that, as part of the settlement agreement. There are things that we cannot disclose," Grant added.

As reported earlier, Theodore Whitmore will take charge of the team for the upcoming Caribbean Cup qualifiers against Suriname on October 5 and Guyana on October 11, with Jerome Waite named as his assistant.

Grant confirmed the interim appointments and stated that the JFF would make a decision

on a longer-term coaching

solution after the Caribbean Cup

qualifiers.

"Theodore Whitmore has been appointed as the interim head coach, and Jerome Waite is his assistant. We are looking at the immediate two games, and after that, we will make a decision on how we move forward (regarding the coaching posts). Those games are upon us, and we have to deal with them now. Thereafter, we will decide how to move forward," said Grant.