FALMOUTH, Trelawny – President of the Trelawny Football Association (TFA) Vinnel McLean is seeking the financial backing of South Trelawny MP Marissa Dalrymple Phillibert for the extension of the parish’s football programme in her constituency.

“We do have a mandate to deal with football in the entire parish, and at this time we have not been able to fulfil the mandate in southern Trelawny. It is still somewhat a virgin territory. We have been trying to work with the MP there but to date we have not been able to get a response after submitting a budget for a complete programme in South Trelawny – and this is after she requested the budget so we are still hoping that we would get there,” McLean argued. “It is something that I have on the front-burner because a lot us have been around for a while and new blood must come into the system, and I don’t think I will be around for much longer and before I leave I would love to see South Trelawny coming into the fold properly in terms of our football programme.”

McLean was addressing the Trelawny Football Association National Rums of Jamaica sponsored Major League and Division One awards ceremony at Starfish Resorts on Tuesday. He heaped kudos on North Trelawny MP Dr Patrick Harris for support of the football programme in his constituency.

“At the St James presentation, my contemporary made mention of the non-assistance from his MPs. I cannot go that route I must say that we have gotten assistance from the MP in Nortern Trelawny… not as much as we would like but he has been consistent and from time to time he has been of assistance to individual clubs.

MacLean said Harris, who sponsors the Knockout competition, assists individual clubs, the parish’s women’s team and provides “medicals” at his office for players free of cost.

“… So I am not going to be knocking the MP in North Trelawny. We here in North Trelawny are working assiduously with the JFF to ensure that we put football on a good sitting,” the TFA boss remarked.

McLean, a former president of the Kingston and St Andrew Football Association has been at the helm of the TFA for the past 11 years.

Meanwhile, at Tuesday evening, Exidus FC – winners of the Major League – were the toast of Tuesday night’s awards.

Village United, the sole team from western Jamaica remaining in the national premier league, were awarded for winning the parish’s Knockout competition.

Yesterday, when the Observer West contacted Dalrymple she was locked in a meeting and unable to comment.