The Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA) Limited has initiated a proposal designed to help resolve the recent impasse involving the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), the referees/assessors, and Montego Bay United Football Club.

And one of the proposals is that the local governing body lift the postponement of the commencement of the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) so that the competition can start on Sunday, September 17, 2017.

A release from the PLCA yesterday said that as part of its promise to continue to work in the best interest of its member clubs, players, sponsors and all other stakeholders to achieve an amicable resolution of all outstanding issues as quickly as possible, it has “advanced or forwarded to the JFF the entire outstanding sum due to the referees and their assessors after this sum was duly reconciled with the said referees/assessors”.

The PLCA also stated that it has “written to the JFF making what the PLCA believes to be a fair and workable proposal to resolve the MBU FC issue”. However, it noted that “as a matter of principle the PLCA cannot disclose the details of its proposal until it is discussed by the parties”.

However, Jamaica Observer sources indicated that the PLCA had put on the table during a meeting of its members yesterday that $1.4 million be paid to Montego Bay United FC, exactly half of the $2.8 million owed to them by the PLCA according to an earlier JFF ruling.

The debt arose after the western Jamaica-based club decided to withdraw from the PLCA in August 2016 with immediate effect, while reportedly stating that it did not want any benefits from any sponsorship, etc, negotiated by the PLCA.

However, according to the PLCA, it acted upon the recommendation of the JFF to readmit Montego Bay United FC to the PLCA on April 1, 2017. However, during the time of Montego Bay United’s absence, the PLCA said it disbursed the monthly subvention to the other 11 participating teams, and resumed paying Montego Bay United after their return to the fold.

A dispute arose and the PLCA denied being liable for debt during Montego Bay United’s withdrawal from the PLCA, but the JFF ruled otherwise and ordered that the club be paid the full allotment of the subvention for the entire season.

But the Observer understands that during yesterday’s meeting, which lasted nearly five hours, Montego Bay United FC Chairman Orville Powell asked to be excused for a restroom break, but he didn’t return, leaving everyone hanging.

The RSPL was scheduled to start on Sunday, September 3, but the JFF ordered a postponement of the start of the competition until the referees and Montego Bay United issues were solved.

Meanwhile, Dianne Ashton Smith, Red Stripe’s head of corporate relation, said the title sponsors remained committed.

“Red Stripe remains committed to the Premier League, and while the postponement resulted in cancellation of services contracted for the launch, we are awaiting the go-ahead from the JFF and the resolution of their internal issues,” she told the Observer.