Players need financial assistance – Moulton

As the waiting game continues for the return of local top-flight football, Waterhouse player Andre Moulton is calling for financial assistance for Premier League players ahead of a potential restart.

Although the Government authorised the return of sporting events on a case-by-case basis on February 5 and track and field events restarted this past weekend, the Premier League still faces obstacles for a restart. Sports Minister Olivia Grange said that the proposal submitted by the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) was sent back for adjustments to the competition format and a board meeting is expected to be held tomorrow where changes could be made and announced.

However, Moulton said that in the interim, a way forward must be met to address supporting the players who have not earned a salary in over a year because of the hiatus.

Be more satisfied

"I think there is a way for players to be more satisfied because it's not like a big industry where you have tens of thousands in it. It's 12 clubs in the professional league where income is being stretched. And with the additional management staff," Moulton told STAR Sports. "So, I really and truly don't think it's that strenuous on sporting bodies, government bodies to take care of their own."

The previous season was suspended and then cancelled because of the pandemic and the current season has already experienced two delays because COVID-19 protocols could not be agreed to. The PFJL, in the meantime, have secured sponsorship with various corporate entities in their goal to reach their $100m budget target. However, Moulton described a bleak future for local football because of the desperate financial situation that players find themselves in.

"Sport is really a career for every individual that is in the sporting industry. Just imagine a police officer or someone from the government is not able to do their job. And they are not getting income, what is next? Will there be any police officers around to do their job or any government operatives to work? What will be next?" Moulton said. "Where is the group that we as sports persons fall under that in case of an emergency like this, players or sporting individuals are properly taken care of?"