Browne: Media only source of info for TTFA members

SELBY Browne, former TT Football Association (TTFA) board member, said members of the TTFA are only learning of developments under the former TTFA administration through the media.

According to a story on local football website wired868.com on Wednesday, Terry Fenwick was hired in December 2019 to replace Dennis Lawrence as head coach after the board voted 8-1 with the understanding that he would be paid US $17,500 per month with other bonuses. In the incentive package, Fenwick would start earning US $20,000 a month if the team qualified for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. However, ousted TTFA president William Wallace, general secretary Ramesh Ramdhan and Fenwick signed an agreement that meant the national coach would receive a starting salary of US $20,000 per month and it would increase to US $25,000 if the team qualified for the Gold Cup.

The additional US $2,500 per month came through sponsorship (not revealed) as Fenwick was not satisfied with his contract according to wired868. The US $2,500 extra was included on the main contract instead of a separate contract. Other TTFA members had no knowledge of the extra US $2,500 Fenwick would be getting before this week.

Wallace and his executive led the TTFA from November 2019 to March 2020 after David John-Williams and his team lost at the elections on November 24. Wallace and his executive were removed by Fifa and a normalisation committee was appointed. The main job of the normalisation committee is to get rid of the huge debt facing the local football body.

Browne, who was aiming to become the first vice-president at the November elections under the John-Williams slate, told Newsday on Wednesday, “I have no comment on any transaction that has transpired under that old administration from November 24 to March 17. During that period no membership meeting was ever called…and the members of the TTFA, to the best of my knowledge, are only learning through the media of transactions during that time.

“Like you and all, I await the answers from those who lead business of the TTFA during that period.”

In a previous Newsday story, TTFA board member Brent Sancho said the situation concerning the salary of Fenwick is unfortunate, as the former TTFA executive is demonstrating a lack of transparency which goes against what their election campaign stood for.

Calls to Wallace and Fenwick proved futile.