'We want our money now'

Western Bureau:

Prior to the start of the 2010 St James Football Association's (StFFA) domestic season, John 'Revolino' McPherson, chairman of the Somerton Young People Association (SYPA), paid over $10,000 to StJFA as registration fee for his team to participate in the association's Guardian Life Division Two competition.

After paying the money, McPherson said the SYPA experienced difficulties in completing the registration exercise and as a consequence, they informed the StJFA that they no longer wished to participate in the competition and requested a refund of their money.

"Instead of returning our money, the StJFA have been coming up with all kinds of excuses, which has left us quite frustrated," said McPherson.

According to McPherson, initially he was told that the request for the refund had come too late, but when he used the competition's rules to challenge that assertion, he said a highly placed board member sought to cast the team in a bad light.

"He (the board official) told me that the reason I could not submit photographs for my players was because they were involved in the 'lotto scam' and did not want to have photographs in circulation," said McPherson.

When the StJFA was contacted about McPherson's allegations, a board source said the issue pre-dated the current board, but they were prepared to examine the matter once they were provided with the requisite information by the SYPA.

"I have two receipts, one for $6,000 and one for $4,000, as the payment was made in two parts," said McPherson. " ... Some people might argue that we should just let the money go. However, it is not only about the money, it is also the principle behind it ... we take accountability quite seriously in Somerton."

Within recent times, the StJFA has become a hotbed of controversy in regards to accountability issues. At last November's annual general meeting affiliates mandated the new board to investigate the stewardship of the previous administration.

In the aftermath of that investigation, two board members, who were formerly responsible for the day-to-day running of the FA's office, were dismissed as part of the board's new drive to facilitate greater levels of accountability.