Western Jamaica ready for franchise system

President of the Westmoreland Football Association, Everton Tomlinson, said that he is in support of the proposed franchise system which was recently brought back to the table by the Jamaica Football Federation president Michael Ricketts.

"Honestly, I still think that's the way to go ... we have to face reality," said Tomlinson." I'm one of those who is convinced that in order for the future of Jamaica's football to be on the right path and get better, then the franchise is where we have to go," he added.

Tomlinson pointed out that the franchise system would create self-sustainable clubs which would improve infrastructure and youth programmes, and thus improve the overall brand of Jamaica's football.

BETTER HOPE

"I believe if we spread the football across the country, it would create an environment to better facilitate professionalism and players would have a better hope of employment. Also, it would definitely increase not just revenue at the gate, but in term of players, supporters and the overall brand of football," said Tomlinson.

President of the St James Football Association Gregory Daley, who said the sport of football is not about getting a bunch of players to just kick a ball, believes for Jamaica to keep up with the global changes in the sport, then it must take this approach.

"Football is a business. For our football to remain sustainable and on par with the rest of the world, we have to do something totally different from what we are doing now. So this franchise system I think is the right direction in order to change the whole state if it," said Daley.