Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
Lorraine Scringer, the president of the Hanover Football Association (HFA), claims she stepped aside as head of Jamaica's delegation to the CONCACAF Under-20 women's qualifying tournament in Mexico because of frustration.
"When the president (Boxhill) first asked me to lead the delegation, he never mentioned any problems," Scringer told The Gleaner in an interview yesterday. "However, when I spoke to him after the congress on Sunday, he began hinting that there might be a problem with me going because of the federation's financial position."
Scringer, a known supporter of Captain Horace Burrell, said two Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) officials (vice-president Linnel McLean and Carvel Stewart), who were privy to the discussion she had with the president, promised to further discuss the matter with Boxhill, who in turn promised to call her that night with a final decision as to whether or not she would remain a part of the delegation.
"The president did not call as he had promised. So realising that the team was to leave on Tuesday, I spent most of Monday morning trying to contact the president in vain," said Scringer. "During the course of the day, I became quite frustrated so when Elaine Walker-Brown (team manager) called me to find out what was happening, I told her I was no longer interested in making the trip."
NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION
Sheridan Samuels of the Hanover FA who moved the no-confidence motion against the Crenston Boxhill-led JFF executive at Sunday's congress, is convinced Scringer was replaced as head of delegation because she did not support Boxhill
Samuels said: "The offer to lead the delegation was made to Lorraine (Scringer) as a form of inducement to have Hanover back down from supporting the no-confidence motion," said Samuels. "Because we stood firm, they made things so uncomfortable for her that she was forced to pull out."
When contacted yesterday, JFF general secretary Burchell Gibson said Boxhill was in Mexico with the team. However, he said while he did not have all the details with regard to concerns raised by Scringer, he knew for a fact that she had voluntarily decided not to make the trip.
"The president told me on Monday that Scringer told him she was no longer interested in going with the team," said Gibson, noting that selecting a head of delegation was the president's prerogative.
"It was after I was told of Ms. Scringer's decision that a replacement was sought in Mr. Michael Ricketts (the president of the Clarendon FA)," Gibson said. "Ricketts' travel arrangement were made on Tuesday (the day the team left) and he left the island on Wednesday."
In the meantime Scringer, who had applied for leave to make the trip, believes she was not treated properly and that it was a deliberate attempt to frustrate her.
"I know I was treated improperly and I believe it was deliberate," said Scringer, who noted that the JFF still had her passport. "I was treated like a child I am very hurt and upset about it."
