Stewart: Epstein’s suggestions show lack of experience in how JPL is structured

Harbour View Chairman Carvel Stewart says a lack of experience in how the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) is structured and managed could have led to the recent resignation of Johann ‘Yoni’ Epstein as chairman of the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) finance committee.

The resignation of Epstein, the Montego Bay United (MBU) chairman, is seen as another big blow within the current struggles of the PFJL, both on and off the field.

Within the last 12 months the organisation saw influential Chairman Christopher Williams stepping down in September, with his replacement, Livingston Morrison, following suit recently.

Epstein, who took over the finance committee chairmanship about a year ago, also decided to resign after only months in the role.

The MBU chairman cited the PFJL’s insistence on prioritising payments to its own members, before settling operational liabilities, as the main reason for his resignation.

He noted also that the board had chosen to override financial recommendations made by his committee, designed to safeguard the PFJL against the risk of insolvency.

“The finance committee’s mandate has always been to ensure that PFJL meets its short-term obligations to operational creditors, upon whom the league’s ability to function depends. Broadcasters, match officials, health insurance providers, and others whose services are integral to the running of a professional football competition,” Epstein stated in his letter.

However, Stewart thinks Epstein’s suggestions shows his lack of experience in how the league is structured and managed.

He pointed out that Epstein wanting to pay more attention to satisfying debts to operational creditors, rather than distributing funds to the performers, the clubs, cannot be the right approach.

“With that attitude, it suggests he is inexperienced in running the league and hence, his misconception of how the matter should be dealt with.

“If you are more concerned about the creditors, you ought to ensure you generate more income to ensure the creditors are covered, and they have not generated the income needed to finance the league’s requirements.

“So it became a toss-up between creditors and clubs, but we always try to make sure clubs get priority,” he said.

Stewart pointed out that without their subventions, clubs can’t pay players, coaches and staff, which will result in disgruntled and demotivated personnel around the league.

“The result will be inadequate team preparations, because players, coaches will be underpaid or not paid, so generally there will be short payments.

“Clubs are expected to generate their own income to assist with expenses, but you can’t have the main performers not able to pay their bills.”

He argued that the finance committee’s recommendations, which Epstein complained were overlooked, are inappropriate, as the main priority should be generating sufficient income for the league.

“The financial recommendations would have had to be how we generate and maintain income and distribute to the clubs.

“There is a misunderstanding as to how you run the operation and what results are expected, and what is expected in general income to the clubs.

“His (Epstein’s) recommendations suggests he was more concerned with paying creditors primarily and not the clubs.”

Stewart, who remains a staunch supporter of the forerunner to the PFJL, the PLCA (Premier League Clubs Association), insists the current PFJL structure remains inadequate, and that the quick burst of financial support they got from corporate Jamaica in the initial stage of the PFJL was never sustainable, and that the PLCA structure was far superior to what the PFJL has presently.

“This season, clubs have not obtained $2 million gross from the PFJL. Under the PLCA (after eight months), the distribution of $600,000 and the SDF’s (Sports Development Foundation) contribution of $150,000 by now would be $6 million to each club. To date, they have not yet gotten to $2 million.

“So the core objective of PFJL has failed in finding financing for the league, because the clubs have not got nothing near what they used to get under the previous administration.”

He added that things are projected to get even tougher next season.

“It is going to be a bigger struggle next year because clearly, what has been negotiated as the league sponsorship can’t be adequate.

“During the years of the PLCA, the title sponsor money was what guaranteed the clubs the $600, 000 per month from PLCA.”

Another director, Paul Christie, Mount Pleasant’s sporting director, believes Stewart and Epstein have solid points, and that the key is obtaining adequate funding.

“Both things can be right at the same time. We are aware that we have an issue as it relates to sponsorship and identifying funds. So the clubs are actually feeling the pain, but two things can be right at the same time,” he said.

“There is no one answer to this question. However, some clubs are drowning. So we have to try to balance and survive. We have to try to get more sponsors and figure out a way to get past this stage and improve the product.”

He added that they will continue working until they get it right.

“There is no one fit to get it right. It has been difficult for the PFJL based on the fact that we just experienced a hurricane, which affected the product and schedule in a negative way. But as a group, we have to figure out how we can get to the end of this season, as we realise we have a responsibility to get it across the line.

“Epstein has demonstrated, and said on record, that he will continue to serve. So we will benefit from his expertise and passion for the product, and we continue to trust the members, the leadership and the collective effort of the group to figure out a way to constantly improve.

“In any business you will find ups and downs, the key is to find stability; and stability is forthcoming,” he said.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com