DESPITE an expected cash inflow from the sale of its Malvern property, the financial situation of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) remains dire.

The $36 million which Government has agreed to pay the JFF for the abandoned Football Academy in hilly Malvern, St Elizabeth, will immediately be diverted to service parts of a frightening debt, said to be in the region of $100 million.

The JFF was originally seeking $45m for the three-acre property that includes three unfinished buildings.

But the sale is bitter-sweet for JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell who would be far more delighted if the funds could have been used for developmental purposes, rather than servicing debts “that his administration inherited”.

“We’re happy that the sale has happened and we can continue tackling our enormous debts which is near $100 million… this money will help us, but will not pull us out of the debt hole,” said Burrell.

When Burrell regained the reins of the local body from Crenston Boxhill in 2007, a forensic audit showed it had a staggering debt in excess of $110 million.

With “their best efforts” in an adverse economic climate, the present administration has been able to lower the outstanding sum marginally.

General secretary Horace Reid said the JFF’s biggest individual creditors are the English FA (J$20 million) and Burrell (J$13 million).

“A sizeable sum” is also said to be owed to Government for statutory obligations.

The JFF became indebted to the English FA after the previous administration failed to pay over proceeds from a ticket allotment for an International Friendly between England and the Reggae Boy at Old Trafford in England in 2006.

Following a series of high-level meetings between the JFF and the FA in 2008, the debt was postponed until after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“Now that the World Cup is over we can expect that they will come knocking anytime soon,” Burrell told the Observer yesterday.

The money owed to the principal of the Captain’s Bakery and Grill chain was an interest-free loan of $17 million during Burrell’s first stint as president, which ended in 2003. He was repaid $4 million during a structured payment plan worked out with the Boxhill team and himself.

“I’m still owed $13 million and I want the money for my business, but right now there’s no way the Federation can pay, so I have to stay the repayment hopefully for when things get better,” Burrell outlined.

Also owed are hotels, utility companies and other companies that provided services to the JFF over the years.

In March, bailiffs showed up at the JFF’s New Kingston offices to seize assets in a bid to recover part of a £10,000 settlement ordered by a Central London County Court almost two years ago, for outstanding fees due to the England-based NVA Management Limited.

A cheque for J$850,000 — representing about half of the amount due — had to be drawn and paid over on spot to avert an embarrassing situation.

The remainder of that debt has since been settled.

The Chris Nathaniel-led NVA Management Limited was contracted to, among other things, organise the 2006 tour of England, which included two games — against World Cup Final-bound teams Ghana in Leicester City, and England in Manchester.