PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and acting president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), Captain Burrell, has expressed profound regret at the resignation of Jack Warner from all his international positions in football, describing the Trinidadian as a “football visionary and extraordinary leader”.

“I am indeed saddened by the departure of Mr Warner, who has given football so much, both at the regional, confederation and international levels. I don’t believe there is another, who can truly fill the void that he will leave in his wake. It was Warner’s tireless work in the vineyard that guaranteed the growth of Caribbean football,” Burrell said yesterday.

“We hope that as this outstanding Caribbean man leaves the field of play of a sport that I know he loves dearly, that he will be remembered firstly for his advocacy for the small footballing nations of the Caribbean and indeed his revolutionary thinking that has seen the fast expansion of CONCACAF into a respectable confederation,” the Jamaican added.

The former army man called on the CFU family to remain a united body as it embarks on repairing its damaged image in the face of bribery allegations and ongoing investigations that have had a ripple effect throughout the global game.

“I’m calling on the CFU family to remain a united body as it goes to work in repairing its damaged image in the face of the ugly bribe-rigging allegation and ongoing investigation. Let me also urge the membership to stick with its fundamental vision of the holistic development of football in the region,” said Burrell.

“We as a family must be stronger than we have ever been; if ever there was a time for us to be one in mission and purpose, this is it. Jack Warner has spearheaded the building of a great foundation, particularly in the CFU and CONCACAF, and it is for us to maintain the integrity of that work as we look to the future,” he added.

Burrell, who has worked closely with the Trinidadian as senior vice-president of the CFU and an executive member of CONCACAF, said it was Warner’s tireless work in the vineyard that guaranteed the growth of football in the Caribbean and the rest of CONCACAF.

“Jack Warner, who is a founding member of the Caribbean Football Union, has served football with great distinction. It is through his inspired leadership that the Caribbean has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in CONCACAF,” the Jamaican noted.

Before the formation of the CFU, the countries of the Caribbean were subjected to mere crumbs from the football table and very little if any attention was given to the development of the sport in the region, said Burrell.

“It was under Warner’s watch that we have experienced numerous development initiatives including administration, coaching and refereeing. It was unthinkable two or more decades ago to even imagine the Caribbean region hosting a single FIFA World Cup event, much less two. That milestone was achieved consequent to the enormous influence and sterling work of Jack Warner,” he added.

Meanwhile president of the Cayman Islands Football Association, Jeffrey Webb, said he was “deeply saddened over the recent developments that have rocked the core of Caribbean football”.

“Jack has provided us with a strong foundation from which to build, and we must not make the allegations surrounding his departure diminish his contribution to the region and the world. Generations to come will be the beneficiaries of his tireless work,” said Webb in a statement.

Warner’s resignation brings to an end the investigation against him, though he has said he will co-operate with the enquiries into the matter which continue.