Adrian Frater, News Editor
Western Bureau-

I read the response of Garfield Sinclair, the chairman of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) franchise committee, to my April 18, 2015 column, which was published under the headline, 'Yearning for a bold and innovative JFF'.

Except for questioning my impatience, I get the feeling he was in full agreement with the sentiments I expressed.

While I am not seeking to pick a fight with Mr Sinclair, I don't think it should have taken a column criticsing the JFF's lack of action on the proposed franchise system, to get him to come out and tell Jamaica that the wait will continue for at least another year.

Based on what I have been hearing from persons such as Carvel Stewart, a top official of Premier League Player's Association (PLCA) and a man with close ties to the JFF, it would appear that, except for Sinclair, very few persons are up to date on issues surrounding the franchise system.

I am very doubtful about the new franchise system coming on stream anytime soon for the simple reason that, entities who should be in the know, such as the PLCA, are claiming ignorance to what is happening.

The above scenario brings me back to one of the long-standing concerns I have about the administration of national football. I believe the JFF has divested its responsibility for NPL football to the PLCA, and are now left out in the cold in terms of its capacity to make changes.

Unlike those who might be of the view that the federation's franchise committee is now busily carrying out feasibility studies to come up with a workable franchise model for Jamaica, I believe the real problem is trying to create a franchise with a limited amount of KSAFA teams.

I am sure it would not be a pleasant experience if the JFF should go to the management of Arnett Gardens, Tivoli Gardens, Waterhouse, and Boys Town and tell them that only two teams from KSAFA will be offered franchise slots.

Until the JFF is able to get around such a hurdle, I don't see a franchise system becoming a reality in Jamaica.

The JFF, especially its president, captain Horace Burrell, must be absolutely delighted with the FIFA directive to reduce the size of its board of management, because it will force some of those persons - primarily with KSAFA interest, who have basically hijacked the nation's football - out of the picture.

In fact, I rather fancy the new proposal, which will see power being divested to the parish association, which will have one vote each.

Once Burrell can get the rural parishes to buy into the franchise system, KSAFA will be powerless to prevent it. That is the innovative leadership I am yearning to see.

As Mr Sinclair rightly stated in his response to my article, I am very impatient with the delay in moving into the franchise system, because I believe the answer to Jamaica's football problems lies in the successful implementation of such a system.

Additionally, with six confirmed investors waiting in the wings, I simply don't want them to become impatient and change their minds.

While I have stated that I seriously doubt we will see the franchise system in Jamaica anytime soon, I am hoping that with increased power, the rural parish associations will begin to push seriously for a substantial size of the football pie, but the crumbs they have been getting cannot make a difference.

Feel free to send your feedback to adrianfrater@hotmail.com