THE 2013-14 Red Stripe Premier League kicks off this weekend after a two-weeks delay in a bid to allow the organisers to sort out the new format that will be used.

The league had to be delayed as one arm of the Jamaica Football Federation either forgot or just could not be bothered to tell the island’s ruling body they were changing the league format that has been used for a number of years. Matter of fact, it appears the JFF only found out about the format change at the press launch or just days before.

Are you confused?

Well, it appears those in charge of the Premier League are way past confused. More likely it seems that they have no clue what they are doing. Why is it necessary to change the format from the league system that is used in practically every country in the world? It appears the sponsors want more excitement and as such they have decided that a format change is the way to go.

The lone argument we have heard been put forward is that when a team has established a good lead, it takes away from the ‘excitement and uncertainty’ of the league. If that’s the case, then the football associations in Scotland, Germany and even Spain and Italy would be tinkering with a new format every few years.

While it’s the sponsors that are paying the bills, and should also have a say in how the league is marketed, they should allow ‘football people to make football decisions’.

An educated and mature fan base will understand the values that the league system brings to the game where consistency is rewarded and leaves no loophole for a team just getting to the play-offs and then at the end of the season, springing a surprise and winning the title.

Those in favour of the play-off system have argued long and hard that the fourth or sixth placed team making a late run to snatch a title adds excitement, but none of them can provide any statistics to say how often that has happened.

What the sponsors could do to make the league much more exciting would be to market the league nationally, in every parish capital whether a team plays there or not.

They should for example, occasionally schedule games in St Elizabeth, Manchester, St Ann and those areas that don’t have Premier League on Sundays; expand on Football Mondays, which is a great idea but woefully lacking as way too many games feature the same teams at the same venues.

Midway last season, the concept had lost its novelty when it appears that almost every game was played at Arnett Gardens.

Also, the Monday games must start earlier, the 9:15pm start is far too late, and that robs the younger fans — who must be a priority target — of watching the games because they have school the next morning.

If the current media house that carries the games cannot provide a more convenient time-slot, then it should be moved elsewhere.