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“[…] Who is responsible for staffing the gates of the Tier 1 games, and the securing of the funds collected? Are the Tier 1 (and Tier 2) teams receiving regular financial updates advising of the gate receipts and/or other sponsorship offers being accepted?
“Are teams supposed to receive a share of the gate receipts and/or sponsorship being accepted? If so, what is the formula being used? If not, why not? […]”
The following Letter to the Editor on the management of the Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) was submitted to Wired868 by A True Football Fan:
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
As a passionate and interested party in local football for many years, I am writing to request some clarity on the following issues, which most of the Trinidad & Tobago Premier League Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams I spoke to are not able to answer:
- Does the Trinidad & Tobago Premier League have a fully constituted committee or board?
- If so, who are the people currently making up the committee or board?
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/ Wired868)
- Are the people on the committee or board paid a salary or stipend? If so, is that information public knowledge?
- Who is responsible for staffing the gates of the Tier 1 games, and the securing of the funds collected?
- Are the Tier 1 (and Tier 2) teams receiving regular financial updates advising of the gate receipts and/or other sponsorship offers being accepted?
- Are teams supposed to receive a share of the gate receipts and/or sponsorship being accepted? If so, what is the formula being used? If not, why not?
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
- What new sponsors have been brought on board by the committee/board? If there are any new sponsors, is the amount sponsored available?
- Are all Tier 1 and Tier 2 teams receiving the full allocated funds as was agreed upon when the concept of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 leagues was proposed? If not, do we know why?
Truthfully, if any one person of any team management knew the answer to all or most of these questions, I would have not written this letter. I believe it’s a bit concerning that they do not.
As I attend games and see the various levels of crowd support, it occurs to me that there are so many possibilities to augment player salaries—some of which are in the meagre range of $1,500 to $2,000 per month.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868
I could be wrong, but incredibly some (if not most) Tier 2 players are not paid at all.
Should there not be vendor sales agreements, licensing agreements for authentic replica kits, or other paraphernalia? Any television rights revenue?
Think it’s time for all of us to better understand how we can fairly help our clubs financially, and young footballers to actually earn a living wage playing football locally.
In fairness, if any of the salaries of the existing administrators are more than ten times the minimum salary of any Tier 1 player, I believe the system needs to be reviewed with respect to sustainability.
Editor’s Note: Click HERE to read a response to this letter to the editor from the TTPFL Executive Committee.
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The imminence of the TTFA elections makes the urgency for a response to these questions all the greater.
Who doubts that those who run the TTPFL will throw their hats in the TTFA ring, perhaps even as a single slate?
What better manifesto can national football look forward to than a sober, balanced, comprehensive response to Mr TFF’s sober, balanced, comprehensive inquiry?