MONTEGO BAY, St James – Despite being owed fees from last season, the St James Referees Group and the St James Football Association have arrived at an agreement that will see the playing of two knock-out competitions, starting this week.

The first-round draw for the Captain’s Bakery and Grill KO for Senior League and Super League teams and the Steve Bucknor KO for Division One teams were made at the FA’s offices at the Montego Bay Cricket Club on Monday afternoon.

President of the FA George Evans said they had arrived at the agreement with the referees to go ahead with the Captain’s Bakery contest, which will decide the team to represent the parish in the JFF Flow National KO competition set to start early next year.

Meanwhile, general secretary of the St James FA, Bruce Gaynor, said all things being equal, the Senior and Division One leagues should start no later than the first week of January.

Gaynor, who was speaking at Monday’s draws, said negotiations with potential sponsors were at an advanced stage and they were expecting to get the green light soon.

The start of the football season in St James has been held up due to over $600,000 owed to the referees from last season, and a decision was taken not to start the new season until those debts have been settled.

Both competitions will be sponsored to the tune of $300,000 each.

Mt Salem FC and Violet Kickers have been drawn to meet at the UDC field tomorrow in the first-round game for the Captain’s Bakery competition.

Seventeen teams, including the five teams in the Western Confederation Super League, will take part in the competition that will be officially launched on Friday, while 11 teams will take part in the Steve Bucknor competition after Champions Youth Club withdrew.

Copperwood Strikers and West Green will meet in the opening game at the UDC field on Friday, with games set for the Albion field next Monday through to Friday.

Bucknor, who was on hand to do the official draw, wished all the teams luck while explaining that only the top four teams would receive financial rewards.

The sponsor will, however, provide match balls and will subsidise the referees’ fees.