The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has refuted a Guyana Chronicle article headline ‘GFF Likely to Terminate Elite League Management’s Contract stating that the entity has no intention to terminate the agreement.
According to the article published January 6, “The Wayne Forde-led Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is currently in the process of reviewing the management team’s contract for the STAG Elite League, with the likelihood of termination.”
“Admitting that the league (Genesis) ran at a loss of millions, the GFF president had stated that his entity will be searching for ways where they can cut back and according to one credible source, to get rid of the management team’s contract will help them (the GFF) to save millions,” the article pointed out.
The Kashif and Shanghai Organization was awarded the contract under the Clinton Urling led Normalization Committee following a tender process, edging out the other bidder Tagman led by Alex Graham.
The Kashif and Shanghai Organization is to be paid $7.312 million to manage the league.
“To date, the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation has received $3.656M and will collect the balance in two phases; $1.828M one week before the commencement of the second half of the league and $1.828M the week after the completion,” the article stated.
However, the release from the GFF states, “The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) categorically debunks the article
“The GFF states unequivocally that it does not intend to renege on the contract entered into in good faith with the management team for the STAG Elite League and quash any contract.
“The genesis of this issue is anchored in the disgruntlement of Mr. Rawle Toney who was dismissed from the GFF.
“On Monday January 4 last, the GFF found it necessary to terminate the services of Mr. Toney as the Sponsorship, Marketing and Communications Director due to his poor performance. On being handed his termination letter, Mr. Toney proceeded to behave in a most obstreperous manner that occasioned the involvement of
the Guyana Police Force.
“This article was penned by him following his dismissal. It is patently clear that Mr. Toney has embarked on a vindictive and malicious pathway to malign and besmirch the GFF, and his modus operandi seems to be the use of fabrication and distortion of sensitive information he would have been privy to.
“He has clearly used his position as an employee of the Guyana Chronicle to pursue this agenda. To this end the GFF has obtained legal counsel to treat with this situation”.
“The GFF seizes this opportunity to bring to the attention of the media, businesses and sponsors with whom it has a relationship, and the general football fraternity at large that Mr. Toney, having been dismissed from the GFF, is no longer authorized to conduct or transact any business on its behalf,” the release added.
Meanwhile, Toney last night issued the following response to the GFF’s release.
Re: GFF Debunks Chronicle Article
The release issued by General Secretary Deidre Davis, seeks to label me as a ‘disgruntled’ former employee.
On January 4, the Executive Committee of the GFF terminated my contract without notice. In the world of work, these things do happen and people part ways and move on.
This clearly isn’t the case with the GFF. I’m employed by the Guyana Chronicle as Senior Sports Journalist. I penned an article based on information I received like any other journalist. I must say that despite me working at the GFF, certain information I was not privy to.
Unfortunately the article was written by me – a former employee of the GFF – and the federation felt that I was being vindictive and wanted to get back at them for terminating my contract.
Members of the media, colleagues; at no time at all will I bite the hand that fed me. I have no issues with the GFF and its Executive Committee.
Everything that I’ve written and published by the Guyana Chronicle is based on facts and information I received from my sources.
At no time at all did I seek to lash out at the GFF or its executive. My only case/issue with the GFF is their unwillingness to honour my contract. According to the document which I signed: “Should the Employee or the GFF terminate this Contract without giving the notice required, the terminating party will be required to pay to the other party the equivalent of one month’s base salary.”
Also, in accordance with Guyana’s labour laws, the GFF is also obligated to pay me from the time spent on the job from my last pay day (December 15, 2015), to the time of termination (January 4, 2016).
I have written FIFA Development Officer Howard McIntosh, FIFA Head of Member Association Primo Corvaro, CONCACAF, CONCACAF head of Legal Affairs Marco Leal and other high ranking football officials, seeking their intervention in the matter.
On the day I was issued with a letter of termination, the GFF, through President Forde, said that I was only entitled to six days pay, despite me pointing out to him the terms of the contract I signed under the Normalisation Committee (NC). He refused to listen and said that I could take the necessary action(s).
An argument ensued and we had exchange of words.
I signed a contract of confidentiality and unlike the GFF, I must honour that contract.
It is my hope that this brings clarity to the issue and we both move on. As a member of the media, I intend cover all football related issues just like I have for the past 11 years without bias.
