Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor
RUDOLPH SPEID, The Gleaner Company Limited's Group Financial Controller/Manager, will fill the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) post of treasurer beginning next month.
This follows the resignation of Carlton Barclay, which becomes effective next week Thursday.
Barclay tendered his resignation nearly three weeks ago when one of the JFF's moves to lessen a $50 million financial debt to sell its $48m building to a 'friendly buyer' was stonewalled by FIFA.
The sport's world governing body advised the JFF not to sell the building because it was procured with FIFA funds.
Confirming the appointment of Speid, who also occupies the post of treasurer of the Kingston and St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA), JFF president Crenston Boxhill, in a Gleaner interview, said besides his qualification as a financial expert, his involvement in the sport aided his selection.
"We looked among us as football people and we believe Rudolph (Speid) is a good choice as treasurer.
FINANCIAL BACKGROUND
"I honestly think that football has gone past the days when you just choose a member (of the federation) to be a treasurer. You need someone with a financial background to send the right message to corporate Jamaica," Boxhill said.
Speid, a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), has been employed at The Gleaner since 1983. He is also a director/treasurer of the Broadcast and Allied Credit Union.
On the football side, he runs Cavalier Soccer Club (CSC), one of the foundation clubs in Jamaica, which was founded by former national player and coach, Leighton Duncan (OD).
A former representative of Portland's Titchfield High, Speid also plays central defence for the Cavalier team which is challenging for a place in the KSAFA Major League semi-finals, as well as The Gleaner which won the KSAFA Business House Division One championship last season with a 2-1 win over Cement Company in the final.
Pointing to the role Speid's involvement in the sport played in his selection , Boxhill said: "Apart from the academic qualifications, he has football background. He is a football person, one who has played at the schoolboy and Major League level, he has coached and managed teams which makes it a plus, making him qualified on both fronts academically and football-wise."
