A day after a report that the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has delayed accepting an offer from GraceKennedy Group’s Chief Executive Officer Don Wehby, the secretary of the local sporting body, Fritz Harris announced that plans are in motion to start discussions.

Harris told the Observer yesterday he has contacted Wehby and a meeting will be held between the leadership of the JCA and the GraceKennedy CEO to negotiate the possibility of implementing a player retainer contract programme, among other issues.

“I was told about the story in the Observer newspaper and we have since made contact with Mr Wehby… An invitation was extended to the JCA’s leadership by Mr Wehby and we will meet with him to discuss matters,” said Harris, who was appointed when Lyndel Wright beat former president Paul Campbell for the JCA leadership in May.

Harris’s declaration came after an Observer article, dated August 31, 2011, quoted Wehby’s sustained interest in assisting the cash-strapped JCA.

“I made an offer to help the JCA in co-ordinating retainer contracts for players, but to this date I have not been contacted to further the discussions.

“I can’t say whether this is because of the administration changes after the elections in May…” he said.

Previously, at a JCA Awards Dinner in January, Wehby suggested that the JCA, then led by Campbell, engage corporate Jamaica in a programme that provides subsidies to national players.

That call followed the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) announcing in late 2010 that contracts would be offered to 15 of its players. Under the contracts, the BCA is expected to assist in the players’ personal development, while exposing them to mental and physical coaching.

Said Harris: “We knew the offer was made and assumed that the matter was already addressed. In that case, we have to apologise because we acted based on an assumption. Our mission is to now correct what went wrong and we have started that process. It was always our intention to pursue a similar programme as suggested by Mr Wehby, so this revelation has really aided that process.”

When Wehby first declared his interest in the matter, many saw it as an opportunity for the board to get much-needed help for its players, while possibly securing sponsorship deals for local club competitions.

Instead, the JCA, like it did during Campbell’s two and a half years in charge, has struggled in its attempts to catch the attention of corporate entities.

Yesterday afternoon, Wehby confirmed to this newspaper that both parties will hold talks some time this month.

“I spoke with the secretary and he has expressed the JCA’s interest in the matter. GraceKennedy will host their team, but I’m not yet certain of the date. It will surely be before the end of this month,” he said.