By Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterNATIONAL MIDFIELDER Keith Kelly will today know his fate when the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Competitions Committee convenes a meeting to decide where he will play his football this season.
Twenty-year-old Kelly has been in the middle of a tug-o-war between Arnett Gardens and Harbour View since the beginning of the season after it emerged that both clubs registered the player to represent them in the Wray and Nephew National Premier League, the country's top competition.
The matter was subsequently placed in the hands of the JFF's competition's committee for a ruling.
"The Competitions Committee has scheduled a meeting for 1:00p.m. tomorrow (today) where the matter will be addressed, a terse JFF general secretary, Horace Reid told The Gleaner yesterday.
RULING
To make their ruling the JFF requested information from French club Paris Saint-Germain, the club to which Kelly was attached for three years following a move from Harbour View.
Harbour View contended that since Kelly was released from PSG then he would revert to being their player. Harbour View's argument was disputed by both Arnett Gardens, and football agent Christophe Henrotay who represents Kelly.
"The JFF say they are now in possession of all the documents so I expect them to outline their findings," said Patrick Roberts, president of the Arnett Gardens Football Club.
"We anticipate that at the end of the day the guidelines of transfers will dictate what happens. It governs both the amateur and the professional player and that is what will be decided tomorrow (today) - whether or not the player is professional or amateur," Roberts continued.
According to Roberts the key issue at hand is the status of the player.
"If he was an amateur then we would pay a maximum (transfer) fee of $5,000.00 or if he was a professional having played less than one season we would pay a maximum of $15,000.00 to secure his move. This is of course if he belongs to Harbour View," Roberts explained.
Harbour View's general manager, Clyde Jureidini, economised on his words.
"We wait to hear what the outcome will be," Jureidini said.
As to whether or not he foresees a positive outcome Jureidini responded: "It has to be positive, whichever way it goes." That was followed up by a chuckle.
"We will be there to look and listen to see what all the parties understand," he concluded.
The players himself was more than happy to know that his inactivity could soon come to an end.
"I feel good to know that it is coming to an end. I want to play some ball.
"That is good news. It is a relief - I can now go back to doing what I truly enjoy."
The return to the football field for Kelly may not be immediate as after that there is the matter of an international clearance. That according to Reid cannot be applied for until a settlement over where Kelly plays is reached.
He added that the length of time it takes to get to the JFF is dependent on "the association to which we will apply".
