PFJL names new Finance Committee chairman

The Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) has unanimously appointed Peter Higgins as the new chairman of its Finance Committee and also named Andrew Thomas as a new member.

Higgins, who is also the chairman of Jamaica Premier League (JPL) club Molynes United, is appointed to replace Montego Bay United’s Chairman Yoni Epstein, who resigned from the role earlier this month.

Thomas is set to replace Mount Pleasant Football Academy’s owner Peter Gould, who stepped down from the committee just days after Epstein’s resignation.

In a press release yesterday, PFJL interim Chairman Donovan White welcomed both appointments and said they came at a critical time for the PFJL and JPL.

Higgins is a senior executive at the National Commercial Bank and has worked in the financial sector for several decades.

The PFJL is confident he was the right selection, as he specialises in corporate finance, risk management, and strategic planning.

Thomas is a qualified accountant and also serves as a director of PFJL, which provides him the perspective of understand the organisation and its mandates.

White said both appointments are expected to reap real rewards for the organisation, as both men bring with them years of financial experience.

“On behalf of the board, I am pleased to welcome Mr Higgins and Mr Thomas to the Finance Committee. Their appointments reflect our continued commitment to sound financial management, accountability, and prudent decision-making,” White said.

“In assessing these appointments, the board responded urgently to the need for the organisation to have solid guidance on a number of critical near-term objectives. We wanted to ensure that we have the right leadership and expertise in place to guide our financial decisions during this important period,” he continued.

In his role as chairman of the PFJL Finance Committee, Higgins will lead the charge in their budgetary planning, their revenue optimisation and their financial risk management.

His appointment also comes as the JPL nears the end of its regular season and clubs are fighting for survival and play-off spots.

PLAY-OFFS

Owen Hill, CEO of the PFJL, confirmed that the play-offs will begin on May 6, with the JPL final set for May 24.

Play-off games will be played on Wednesdays and Sundays and will be held at the National Stadium.

“We anticipate a highly competitive play-off series, showcasing the very best of Jamaican football,” Hill said of the post-season.

“Jamaicans and JPL fans both at home and abroad will have subscription access to all play-off matches via JPLTV on YouTube,” he continued.

“This platform allows us to connect with our global audience and ensure that supporters can follow their favourite teams regardless of location. We encourage all fans to stay engaged and look out for further updates as we approach the play-offs.”

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com