Football executive short staffed

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) will be looking to its General Council for guidance in filling the two vacant posts of First Vice-President and an Assistant Secretary of Operation.

The post of First Vice President was left open following the resignation of Ian Sardine last September. The executive was hoping for a change of heart from him, but that has not materialised. {{more}}

The indefatigable Sardine parted company with the Federation, soon after Technical Director Ces Podd and Head Coach Aide Shaw were axed.

The other vacancy has arisen owing to the inactivity of the incumbent.

According to reports from the SVGFF, Shelly Ann Gregg has shown little interest in her appointment since the start of the year.

In addition to these two positions, the Council must also appoint four other officers to complete the executive. The Council has met one of the obligations given to it by the SVGFF constitution in the appointment of Asbert Williams who now serves as a committee member.

But,the council has been woefully short of pro-activity.

Intended to be the “watch dog” of the executive, the council has failed in its mandate.

The non-functioning of this crucial body has allowed the executive to go scot-free on many issues.

The poor performance of the federation’s public relations department is one such issue; a tour to Tobago by a representative team last month, has been that department’s latest best-kept secret.

The numerical weakness of the executive has left some of the federation’s programmes unattended, while one executive member with responsibility for competitions showed complete oblivion to the operation of the inaugural national league. The league laboured through its trials and ended about two months ago.

Since Sardine’s departure, the youth programme has been allowed to meander.

Sardine is now the driving force behind the newly established St. Vincent and the Grenadines Youth Football Academy.

Youth are expected to be the central focus of this country’s thrust to impact on the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Leacock disclosed that he was dissatisfied with the slow pace of the programme but advanced “an accentuated’ effort. He said that more attention would be paid to the Under-12’s and Under-15’s. The participation of an Under 15 team in a tournament in August in Tobago, Leacock said is testimony of the focus.

He said that the Federation’s efforts would complement that of the SVG Academy as well as establishing juvenile football units and the schools’ set up.

The Federation will also seek to utilise several coaches to fast-forward the process. Elected in September 2003 the current executive has a four -year life.