McLean remains TFA president

WESTERN BUREAU: Businessman Linnel McLean, who has been president of the Trelawny Football Association (TFA) since October 1998, was re-elected unopposed to serve a sixth consecutive two-year term last weekend at the association's annual general meeting in Falmouth.

"It is clear that the affiliates still see me as the man for the job," said McLean, who recently described the TFA as being vibrant, viable, and sustainable. "The parish's football is doing quite well and I intend to keep it that way."

In a remarkable show of confidence, except for the position of treasurer, which was vacated by Dave Lawkins, all members of the previous administration were re-elected unopposed. Lawkins did not seek re-election and was replaced by Omar Scott, who defeated Steve Palmer 16-12 to fill the vacancy.

The new executive reads: Linnel McLean - president; Marline Brown - first vice-president; Dwight Jeremiah - second vice-president; Carol Gentles - third vice-president; Collin Campbell - secretary; Hernie Brown - assistant secretary; Carlton Reid - public relations officer; Omar Scott - treasurer; zone representatives Dane Clarke - Falmouth, Dale Walker - Queen of Spain, Delroy Downer - Clarks Town, Ronald McLean - South Trelawny; and Irvin Vernon - referee's representative.

Having spent the past 11 years restructuring Trelawny's football, the experienced McLean, who previously had experience on the board of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association as its president and has been a long-standing Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) executive, said the parish's football is now in a healthy state.

Doing well

"While we could do well with some additional sponsorship, we are doing quite well," said McLean, who is also chairman of the JFF Western Confederation. "Presently, we are running the National Rums of Jamaica Major League, the National Rums of Jamaica Division One, the TFA Under-17, the TFA Business House, the TFA Knock-Out Competition, and the TFA President's Cup."

It should be interesting to note that an answer to the TFA's desire to secure more sponsorship could be looming on the horizon. National Rums of Jamaica, which has been sponsoring the parish's football for close to three decades, recently announced that it plans to establish even greater ties with local football.

"We are looking forward to playing an even greater role in the near future," said National Rums of Jamaica executive Earl Patrick. "In another six months or so, you can look forward to a major announcement."