William Wallace, the ousted president of the T&T Football Association (TTFA), has sought to clear the air on concerns of his group’s alleged financial deals, which would have led to the installation of the Robert Hadad-led Normalisation Committee by FIFA on March 17.
Circulating documents this week of invoices amounting to approximately $36,000 pounds showed the TTFA appeared to have hired Phil Mepham of UK firm PRM Sports Ltd to conduct communication work on its behalf. That figure, along with another amount for $99,405 which was borrowed by general secretary Ramesh Ramdhan in early March to pay salaries for February, added to an already burdening debt of the TTFA.
The money was borrowed from local Car Dealers D&D Auto World since the accounts of the TTFA had been garnished following a court order in February.
Wallace in explaining the Mepham invoices said, “It has been brought to my attention that Phil Mepham has made a financial claim against the TTFA. It is more than unfortunate that I am once again required to deal with this matter when both TTFA secretary Ramesh Ramdhan and I have already clearly stated that Mepham was brought on board by Peter Miller. As is the case with Miller, any payments for services rendered by him was directly hinged on income accruing from sponsorship and was, in any case, to be handled by Miller.”
Ramdhan in attempting to put more clarity to the Mepham deal said, “The communication deal was part of an overall agreement between the TTFA and Miller to properly market and provide a proper image of the TTFA, where the international audience could have logged in and either purchase memorabilia, sportswear and find out anything about T&T football.
“However, Hadad and company rejected the website and Mepham decided to submit invoices for work done. Otherwise, the website and the work being done by Miller was at no cost to the TTFA.”
Wallace explained the Mepham deal was a by-product of the Miller agreement.
According to Wallace: “Robert Hadad, chairman of FIFA’s questionable Normalisation Committee indicated that audited accounts have confirmed receipt of FIFA monies intended for the Home of Football as well as expenditure on same. Are the media not interested in that accounting? Why are they not asking if there is USD $1.5 million nestling in an account in Panama and how did that sum get there? It is my view that the TTFA membership is the competent body to settle matters connected to the TTFA leadership and the unilateral signing of contracts etc.”
He promised to drop the court matter should the court rule against them. However, he noted if the court ruled in their favour, his first order of business will be to call an Extraordinary General Meeting to discuss TTFA’s leadership, and the future and all contract matters that have arisen since March, 2020.
TTFA was on Friday, given a revised deadline of September 23 to drop all matters in the T&T court against FIFA, or face suspension or sanctions.