Sardine refuses seat on football executive

Ian Sardine, who resigned the post of first vice president of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation last week, is sticking to his stance.

“I will not return to the executive given the current situation,” Sardine said adamantly. Sardine tendered his resignation soon after other members of the executive axed Technical Director Cess Podd and Head Coach Adrian Shaw. {{more}}

When quizzed if the firing of the coaches was his main reason, Sardine said, “It was an accumulation of factors and the manner in which it [their sacking] was done, which eventually caused me to resign.”

The way has been left open for Sardine to return, as the Federation has not accepted his resignation.

President of the Federation, St. Claire Leacock, thought that Sardine action was “impetuous” and hoped that he would return “to continue what he does best – put his heart and soul in football”.

Sardine said, though, that he would not be swayed by those comments.

He said that he would not “close out” on football but would channel his efforts to his club, St. Vincent Motors System 3.

Sardine held the portfolio on technical matters. He left the Federation at a time when the sport was poised for a take-off, granted the relative stability of the current executive.

Considered by many as the “Godfather of football”, the indefatigable Sardine has notched up over 25 years in the sport, with an affinity for youth development. He served as president from 1995 to 1996. His most recent post was from 2001 until his resignation. Sardine was

re-elected unopposed September 13, last year.