'Let's talk' - JFF wants meeting with KSAFA clubs amid promotion stand-off

In order to rectify the standoff between the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and KSAFA over the new Premier League promotion system, JFF president Michael Ricketts says he will be meeting with the clubs themselves later this week, as he believes the JFF's message is not being properly communicated to the clubs by the confederation.

"We want a meeting with the clubs themselves because I don't think everyone disagree with the new proposal," Ricketts explained.

In September, Ricketts told STAR Sports that he would meet with the board of directors of the JFF in order to prevent a stalemate with KSAFA, but he is now reporting that the JFF will not change its plans to move to the new promotion system, as it would be setting a bad precedence.

"If we should do what they (KSAFA) say, then it would be a situation where the tail is wagging the dog and others will want to do the same," Ricketts said. "If FIFA gives an instruction to the JFF, then we can't say that we are not doing it or else they would be repercussions."

CHANGE THE METHOD

In 2014, there was an agreement between the JFF and the four confederations to change the method by which teams are promoted to the nation's top-flight league.

As it stands now, winners of each of the four confederations qualify for the JFF/Magnum Play-off series. However, the new method would zone parishes into four groups and the winners would earn a spot in the play-off series, where the top two teams will be promoted to the RSPL.

KSAFA will be grouped with the St Thomas and St Catherine football associations, but the clubs in the Corporate Area believe this is a strategic move to lower their dominance in local football.

As such, they decided to not take part in the new promotion system, which is slated to begin in June for the 2019-20 Red Stripe Premier League season.

However, the JFF is refusing to revert to the old system as is being demanded by the current KSAFA administration, led by Wayne Shaw, with the local authority arguing that then president of KSAFA Stewart Stephenson had supported the proposal for the change at the time of its introduction.

"This is something that has been discussed over a long time ago and there was a consensus and the then KSAFA president supported the move," Ricketts said. "I sent the minutes from that meeting to KSAFA."