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“[…] Peter Miller and company promised us TT$9.5 million per year worth of sponsorship for four years. Along with a project that was proposed to eliminate the TTFA’s TT$50 million debt, this represented—or seemed to—an ideal platform for doing business with Miller.
“Let me reiterate here that I didn’t think we had anything to lose by engaging Miller. If he were successful, I reasoned, the TTFA would also be successful; if he failed, then we would simply have remained in the hole that previous administrations had dug us into…”
The following is a press statement from Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president William Wallace regarding secret deals with controversial ‘marketing director’ Peter Miller and recommended parties:
(Copyright Allan V Crane/TTFA Media/CA-images)
So another issue has arisen involving the arrangements with persons engaged in providing services to the TTFA and my good name. It is therefore necessary for me to state my position once more.
The only reason I decided to lead the United TTFA was that I firmly believed there was finally a real opportunity to make Trinidad and Tobago football debt-free. I and many others were of the view that the commercial package presented to the football fraternity in November provided such an opportunity and we were willing to hinge our hopes on it.
The roll-out of this package was to commence within six months of the elections. In the event, we were never even given the chance to fail since FIFA’s attempt to unceremoniously remove us from office came after a mere three months. But we feel certain that the real reasons for this attempt to remove us will become clearer to Trinidad and Tobago in the coming months. Already, that process has begun.
Peter Miller and company promised us TT$9.5 million per year worth of sponsorship for four years. Along with a project that was proposed to eliminate the TTFA’s TT$50 million debt, this represented—or seemed to—an ideal platform for doing business with Miller.
(via Stoke Sentinel)
Let me reiterate here that I didn’t think we had anything to lose by engaging Miller. If he were successful, I reasoned, the TTFA would also be successful; if he failed, then we would simply have remained in the hole that previous administrations had dug us into.
I would like to make it clear as well that funding provided to the TTFA under Fifa Forward cannot be used to pay for these types of services, a fact that was clear to Miller and his team. There were therefore no risks involved in an agreement that payment for the services to be provided would come from the promised sponsorship.
Let me repeat as well that TTFA money would not and, more than that, could not have been used to pay for this service. It is a matter of record that the general secretary so informed Miller in discussions and via email.
Since the expected sponsorship dollars were to come directly to the TTFA, we agreed that commissions, salaries, payments, etc would have been paid by us. The amount to be paid to Miller was established before I accepted to go forward with the arrangement, so I honoured same.
My position was—and still is—that, even if only 50% of what was promised was delivered, whatever remained after payout would have been more than we originally had.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
It is only fair for people to be judged on their actions, past and present. However, unfortunately, sometimes we do not give people a chance to make amends for past mistakes.
I was confident that we would have benefited from our arrangement with Miller. The Arima arrangement, for example, that spoke to clearing the debt got us to the point of signing an MOU. And even after the normalisation committee was set up, the company involved wrote to the Prime Minister indicating their continuing interest in the project.
I can—and will—walk away from national football eventually, in the full knowledge that I did not come to take from Trinidad and Tobago football but to give to it.
All I ask is that you not judge my choices without attempting to understand the reasons for my actions.
Editor’s Note: Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) ‘marketing director’ Peter Miller, media consultant Phil Mepham and Men’s National Senior Team head coach Terry Fenwick all claim to have contracts with the TTFA for flat monthly salaries, which are unrelated to sponsorship income.
Wired868 has seen Fenwick’s contract and can confirm same in his case.
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Ok so what you are saying maybe quite right but the avenue was CAS. The FIFA does not always win when they go to CAS. Just hope the end justifies the means. And what about all these statements concerning the ‘corrupt’ nature etc of the FIFA? How would you and those same people work together for the betterment of the football if that is the case? Some of these issues have to be separated. As it is now the Statutes of the FIFA is at a crossroad. Not all the courts in the world operates on the same ‘premise’. Maybe at the end of it all you might be remembered as one of the men who ‘changed’ the FIFA and gave the rest of the world freedom from unjust laws. But that is the chance you and the guys took and it is probably too late to turn back now.
Eh eh! We hearing from only one William when is two Williams we suppose to hear from?
And Mr Sancho who had so much to say before Bassant talk, whappen to he? He hoarse or what?
Or maybe is because we find out he horse dope…
The issue I have is that every TTFA executive have been acting in the interest of “T&T Football”. There were even those in the past who claimed that they were so moved by their love for game and country that they dipped into their own pockets to fund the organization (does anyone
know the interest rate on that kinda luv)? Yet football finds itself in a 50 million hole and likely to get deeper as
the revelations come to the fore. In reading the current president justification of this contract I am seeing a
lot of ‘I felt, I was confident etc. Never we assess or the board or committee agreed. I might be wrong here
but these decisions seem unilateral and begs
the question, what were the motivations for adopting this approach especially in light of what you
had starting uncovering re. the misdeeds
of the previous administration?
You’re obviously not wrong and Wallace will have to provide answers to all those questions t the appropriate time. Indeed, he has repeatedly said that he will subject himself to the close scrutiny of the membership.
I submit the issue is not whether he had an agenda but whether that agenda has at its centre his best interest or our best interest.
That is not to condone his unilateral actions, merely to highlight just how deep is the hole we are in.
Because it must be clear to all and sundry that HE MEANT WELL. But he failed completely to understand that the end does not justify the means.