President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Michael Ricketts, outlined a budget of US$1.9 million (J$290m) for the nation’s football for the next four years at his manifesto launch yesterday at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Clarendon.
Ricketts, who also announced his slate for the elections against Raymond Anderson at the Rusea’s High School this Sunday, revealed that US$1.2 million would come directly to the federation’s coffer from their Adidas deal, as well as 20 per cent of all apparel sales.
“This administration would have negotiated the best contractual arrangement ever in the history of our football,” Ricketts trumpeted.
“It took us three years to complete the negotiations with Adidas. As part of the arrangement, Adidas will pay US$1.2 million in cash, we will get $2 million worth of apparel annually and 20 per cent royalty payment for every piece of equipment sold with a Reggae Boyz or Girlz logo,” he told the gathering.
He claims Jamaica has proven more attractive than European countries with similar contracts with Adidas.
“They have similar arrangements with teams in Europe, and up to May, they would not have sold half of what Jamaica sold. At the end of May, they would sell US$3.5 million worth of apparel, and with the euphoria of the World Cup and Copa America (coming up), I am sure we will double that number.”
Technical Committee Chairman Rudolph Speid, who will run as a director, explained the distribution of the money with Ricketts being reelected in Sunday’s run-off.
He noted that from the $1.9 million, 25 per cent will go to parish affiliates to assist their competitions and operations, 20 per cent to the professional leagues and five per cent to the associations. The other 50 per cent will be used for youth and grassroots programmes.
He also pointed out that it was the JFF’s best-ever return of revenue generation.
“We have set up admirably to kick on in 2024. In 2023, the JFF made the most money in revenues it has ever made in the history of the JFF, and if 2023 was good, wait until you see our budget for 2024. We are making even more money,” Speid said.
He added that they intend to extend their commercial arrangement with the Professional Football Jamaica Limited (PFJL) to 10 years.
However, plans to expand the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) to 16 teams remain afoot.
“We will provide funds to the women’s tier one and tier two units until they are established and can survive.
“The professional league, we need to give them space to grow. So, we will extend the commercialisation contract with the PFJL. It has one-and-a-half year left to run, and we will give them a 10-year extension.
“Financial assistance will come from the Adidas royalties to the professional leagues, and the number of clubs in the Premier League will remain at 14 until it is capped at 16,” he added.
Ricketts’ slate comprises St James FA’s president Gregory Daley, Elaine Walker-Brown – the St Catherine FA president and Portland and Manchester presidents Baron Watson and Raymond Grant, respectively, as vice-presidents.
Rudolph Speid and Bruce Gaynor will run as directors.
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