Post by Admin on Nov 25, 2019 17:51:14 GMT
trinidadexpress.com/sports/local/wallace-wins/article_38e88016-0f25-11ea-8a7f-3fcc35d8b7e6.html
WILLIAM WALLACE is the new president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.
It took two polls before the retired former schoolteacher and president of the Secondary Schools Football League was elected to lead the TTFA by a 26-20 vote. The first ballott was close; Wallace won 20 votes, incumbent David John-Williams got 16 and newcomer Richard Ferguson received 10 from the 46 delegates.
“If this was a general election, I would be prime minister now,” Wallace said, acknowledging the vast public support he had received.
Wallace reports for work this morning, where he will meet members of the TTFA staff. His first mission is expected to be fact-finding.
Meantime, Dennis Lawrence remains national senior men’s team coach.
Wallace inherits an Association deep in debt and, more recently, having three multi-million dollar court judgements — by former employees Kendall Walkes, Stephen Hart and Anton Corneal — go against them.
“We have already had a discussion with Mr. Hart, Mr. Walkes and Mr. Corneal,” Wallace said. “We are going to meet again with a plan going forward, one that will not put the Association under extreme pressure.”
Openly congratulating and embracing Wallace following his victory was his de facto campaign manager, Keith Look Loy. Outspoken at times, and certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, Look Loy assured those present that he had no ulterior motives.
“This is the new president of the TTFA,” he said. “I will not be in anywhere in the background, trying to be president.”
With the election over, the healing process is expected to begin. However, both Wallace and Look Loy might have a tough job removing suspicion from the minds of others, including delegate Michael Awai of the AC Port of Spain professional club.
“The message might be a good one but the messenger is very toxic,” Awai said, referring to Super League president and TTFA Board Member Look Loy’s role in Wallace’s successful campaign.
“Toxic, meaning Keith Look Loy,” Awai reiterated. “I think that all the good William Wallace might do will be eliminated by Keith Look Loy, with his attitude and his toxic ways. But I wish them all the best.”
Leaving the post was John-Williams who came into the presidency four years ago with equal enthusiasm and, like Wallace, needed two rounds of votes to unseat Raymond Tim Kee.
John-Williams left with few words yesterday.
“I congratulate William Wallace on his victory,” he said. “I move on with my life. I did what I have to do. I gave it my best shot.”
With a new president now installed, speculation began as to what stakeholders would like to see.
“The only thing we have to change in football is development,” said Awai. “We have a new building; you can’t take that away from David John-Williams, that is his legacy.
“That is what was missing, in my mind, during David John-Williams’ tenure - development of football. That is why we suffered on the field of play,” Awai declared.