ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — An Antiguan businessman, Neil Cochrane, is the new general secretary of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), a CFU release said on Wednesday.

Cochrane has been appointed to replace Anguilla’s Damien Hughes, who had announced his intention to leave the position since last year.

The CFU statement announcing the appointment said Cochrane has a wealth of experience in management having spent the last 13 years as a marketing manager.

“We have to understand and have dialogue with the associations to understand their strengths and their weaknesses and to see how we can improve and enhance their weaknesses and further develop their strengths,” said Cochrane

“So that, when they have their leagues in St Lucia or in Guadeloupe or in Haiti, they are all of a particular standard. We have to make sure they are all tapping into as many resources as possible to fund the various programmes that they have.”

Already, the new general secretary has announced plans to reduce the CFU staff in Jamaica, as well as renting a smaller office there.

He also revealed that some aspects of the daily operations of CFU will be relocated to Antigua.

“There will be some reduction in staff in Jamaica and the size in the current facility that we rent,” he said.

“And then there will be the establishment of an office here in Antigua with some support staff and in particular the media; the PR machinery will be placed in Antigua.”

In his first interview in the new role, Cochrane said while he intends to open up dialogue with the membership, first on his agenda is transforming CFU into a financially viable organisation.

“The majority of the funding for the Caribbean Football Union comes through CONCACAF and at the end of the day, the monies are not necessarily close to what the CFU requires to execute all of its programmes,” said Cochrane.

“So therefore we have an obligation to do our endeavour best to increase and improve the revenue machinery of the Caribbean Football Union so that the member associations can be supported stronger.”

Cochrane has served in executive positions on several sporting organisations, including football, horse racing and volleyball.