Many-time champions Barbican FC will not be participating in this season’s JFF/Lascelles Employees and Partners Co-operative Credit Union Women’s League because of lack of sponsorship, after uncertainty surrounding the competition that has returned following a one-year hiatus.

Barbican have won the league title for the last nine years, and claimed 12 of the last 15 championships. They have also been undefeated since 2011 but will not be one of the 10 teams battling for over $1 million in cash prizes this season.

Former Jamaica Head Coach Charles Edwards, who has guided Barbican during their dominance of women’s football, was left devastated.

“Extremely disappointed; words can’t explain my tears. Felt like a knife pierced through me,” Edwards, who is overseas, told the Jamaica Observer in an exclusive interview.

“I was very much unable to communicate to the players what was happening. Just did not know how to. My next move is to sit and look within and decide if I’ll ever come back to coach in the JFF women’s league,” said Edwards.

“We were unable to find sponsorship. Last year it was said we would have a competition, and we had sponsorship lined up only for the competition to be a no go. Sponsors are aware of that last outcome and are reluctant, so it was like starting all over again. Very difficult situation for us,” explained Edwards.

“We were blamed because it was said that we were hinted at or knew of the competition starting. What they, the JFF (Jamaica Football Federation), don’t understand is that unless it’s official we can’t get any official discussion with sponsors,” Edwards said.

With Barbican’s absence the 2018-19 season will see the 10 participating teams placed in two groups of five. Beaten finalists from the 2014 season Arnett Gardens, along with St Catherine outfit Frazsiers Whip are making a return to the league, while Cavalier SC and SC Monarch of St Catherine are the newcomers.

The other competing teams are 2016 beaten finalists Waterhouse, St Mary-based Rangers FC, St Ann Women’s FC, Real MoBay FC, Trelawny Women’s FC, and Olympic Gardens.

The top four finishers of the league will pocket $500,000, $300,000, $200,000 and $160,000, respectively. The mid-season finalists are set to receive $120,000 and $100,000 for respective first- and second-place finishes.

Among the other incentives will be $150,000, $100,000 and $75,000 for the top three knockout teams, as well as MVP and Coach of the Year awards.

Barbican have provided the bulk of the local-based players to the national team over the years. In order to stay active, these players will be representing other teams.

There is doubt whether Barbican will make a return next season.

“I really don’t know because I really want the team to play, but the situation left me saturated with hurt. So upon leaving, I left instructions for the captain to deal with all transfers. The instruction was to give them free transfer and those who wish to return next year should ask the clubs to sign and give us a transfer for their return in 2019. I believe about 95 per cent will do that, as close to all said they’re only playing elsewhere because Barbican is not entering,” Edwards added.

“After so many years with these players and playing in the league, it was extremely difficult to deal with it. God knows best and that’s why I was scheduled to be away,” said Edwards.

Meanwhile, JFF General Secretary Dalton Wint, during the launch of the competition last Tuesday, welcomed the new partnership with Lascelles and expressed hoped it will be a very fruitful one ,following the withdrawal of long-time sponsor Sherwin Williams.

“It shows real commitment and corporate responsibility on the part of Lascelles. They are an outstanding corporate company and when they approached JFF, we accepted them with open arms,” said Wint.

But Edwards, although cognisant of the difficulty in securing sponsorship, said he thought it wasn’t realistic to be prepared within such a short notification time.

“I do understand the difficulty of the federation finding sponsorship but they also need to understand how clubs function and, just like [in] their situation, how tough it can be to find financial support.

“To ask us to get ready in two months was a difficult one. The standard at which I need to prepare my players and to create the support cast which is needed at a high standard was not happening. I had thrown it out at a few companies and at one point I was pressing so hard that one person stopped taking my calls. At that point the situation truly started to dawn on me,” said Edwards.

“I do wish them all the best for the season in the running of the league, and may they be completely blessed with success,” he added.

The league started on the weekend.