The scheduled start of the new premier league season on Sunday has been postponed by the ruling Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) until a couple of worrying issues are solved, says a joint statement from the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) and sponsor Red Stripe.

While outlining the reasons for the postponement, the statement said: “The JFF, on August 30th, wrote to the Chairman of the Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), the Honourable Edward Seaga, indicating that the 2017-18 staging of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) will be postponed.”

It said the JFF’s letter listed a series of administrative failings on the part of the PLCA which need urgent remedy before the new season begins.

The statement continued: “Amongst the issues listed was the failure of the PLCA to deliver grants to Montego Bay United Football Club equal to the grants received by every other team that participated in the 2016-2017 staging of the Red Stripe Premier League.

“The JFF also noted that it had been advised that the sum of $4,060,482.20 is owed to referees, assistant referees and referee assessors for unpaid salaries for the 2016-17 staging of the Red Stripe Premier League.

“Finally, the JFF listed a series of breaches on the part of the PLCA in respect of the agreement between the JFF and the PLCA; which is the contractual foundation of the establishment of the Professional Football Association of Jamaica, organiser of the Red Stripe Premier League.”

It concluded by saying that the [interim] president [Bruce Gaynor] of the JFF “has had discussions with the title sponsor’s representatives” regarding the issues noted.