BURRELL... in high-stakes games I'm prepared to find money to get experienced players here

President of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Captain Horace Burrell, has dismissed suggestions that Jamaica were not able to invite all their top overseas-based pros for games because it did not have the money to do so.

Burrell, who sacked technical director Rene Simoes after the Reggae Boyz's campaign-threatening 0-2 defeat to Honduras last week in San Pedro Sula, said at no time did he place a restriction on the Brazilian as to the number of foreign-based players he could invite.

"That was never the case. In terms of getting players here, the man (Simoes) in charge would always advance a list of players who he wants in the squad and we fly them here," said the JFF head on Tuesday, immediately following a Board of Directors meeting to decide Simoes' successor.

The Brazilian has been succeeded by World Cup veteran and his assistant, 36-year-old Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, as interim head coach for the first two home World Cup qualifiers against Mexico (October 11) and Honduras (October 15).

Further, former England and Liverpool star, 44-year-old Jamaica-born John Barnes, will take over on November 1 for a one-year stint.

Burrell - on his second watch as JFF president and the visionary behind Jamaica's historic qualification to the 1998 France World Cup - conceded that it is indeed an expensive exercise to fly the players in from abroad, especially those arriving from Europe. But said he would spare no expense to get the players in the island as he is a strong advocate of having his top foreign players available for high-profile games, including World Cup qualifiers.

"I don't know why anyone would say that because it is well known that I like to have my top players here despite the costs. I am not suggesting that I don't like to see the local-based players, but when it comes to certain high-stakes games, I am prepared to find the money to get the experienced players here," Burrell explained.

The dismissal of Simoes comes against the background of the Brazilian's questionable selection of players, which has seen a number of top overseas-based players, including in-form striker Marlon King, left out of the team in the Reggae Boyz's last three away CONCACAF Zone B Semi-final World Cup qualifying games against tough opponents Canada (drew 1-1), Mexico (lost 0-3) and Honduras (0-2).

With only a point going into back-to-back home matches at 'The Office', Jamaica's crusade is sitting on quicksand and the Boyz must now win all their remaining games, and hope Honduras falter if they are to advance to the Group of Six.

But despite the daunting odds, Burrell remains optimistic of not only progressing to the next phase, but also to the World Cup Finals in South Africa in 2010.

"Jamaica will reach the second round which will commence next February... the JFF feels very confident that with the new adjustments and new initiatives, we will make it to South Africa 2010. It will be a different ball game in 'The Office'," Burrell said, brimming with confidence.

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