Wright to challenge Campbell

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

The Gleaner has been reliably informed that Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) vice-president, Lyndel 'Muddy' Wright, will challenge the incumbent, businessman Paul Campbell, for the body's top position, at the association's next annual general meeting, which is slated to be held later this month.

It is understood that Wright, who is a former national representative and long-serving member of the JCA board of directors, has been canvassing support to mount a challenge against Campbell, who it is understood has lost support among his supporters since being elected two years ago.

"Wright has indicated that he is going to challenge Campbell for the presidency," said a JCA official on the condition of anonymity.

"A number of members of the association have not been impressed with the stewarship of Campbell and his team over the past two years and they have asked Wright to run for the post and he has accepted. It's just a matter of time before it becomes public," the source added.

Campbell, in the meantime, who defeated former West Indies and Jamaica captain, Courtney Walsh, by three votes in the 2008 elections, said he has not yet received any official word as it relates to the challenge of Wright, but he was quite aware of reports.

"I am hearing a few stories that there will be a challenge. I cannot confirm, as nobody has officially declared themselves. But persons have indicated to me that he plans to challenge me," said Campbell.

He added: "But if that is the case, that is the case. The fact that I decided to put myself up for re-election means that I have to be prepared to go through the rigours and if he offers himself as a challenger, I will just have to put in the work to ensure that I come out on top."

Meanwhile, efforts to get a confirmation from Wright proved futile, as on each occasion when contacted, he said he was "in a meeting".

Campbell, in 2008, campaigned on a three-dimensional manifesto, which focused on improving standards and adding value "to the cricket product" via administration, technical operation and financial sustainability interventions.

In carrying out these objectives, Campbell was instrumental in the hiring International Cricket Council World Twenty20 2010 tournament director, Robert Bryan, as chief executive officer, and former Jamaica and West Indies captain, Jimmy Adams.

These appointments, in addition to Jamaica's record success at the senior, Under-19, Under-15, female and blind cricket levels last year, along with the restaging of an international Jamaica cricket festival of stars, the signing of a cricket development memorandum of understanding with the University of Technology, are some of the achievements listed by Campbell's administration.

But his critics have oftentimes complained about the accountability and transparency of his admini-stration and have pointed to the recent resignations of former treasurer, Major Radcliffe Daley, and former general secretary, Milton Henry, as to proof of their claims.

Campbell, however, has in the past, refuted these claims, labelling them as propaganda geared towards discrediting the association's work and achievements.

The date for the annual general meeting and election of officers will be revealed later this week following a meeting of the JCA's board of directors.