Author Topic: Stay away, Sancho! Central FC players protest possible Sancho/Harrison returns (Read 5470 times)

SWF Reporter · « **on:** September 16, 2015, 02:51:38 PM »

Stay away, Sancho! Central FC players protest possible Sancho and Harrison returns
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)

Former Sport Minister Brent Sancho and his advisor Kevin Harrison were subjected to a new low today, as 24 of Central FC’s 29 football players signed a petition that urged their board of directors not to allow them back to the Pro League club.

The petition, which was addressed to “the management of Central FC”, stated that: “We, the players of Central FC, are not in favour of the former management team of Brent Sancho and Kevin Harrison returning to the club with so many allegations outstanding against them.”

The letter was signed by the majority of the squad including: Trinidad and Tobago international senior players Jan-Michael Williams, Willis Plaza, Marcus Joseph and Ataulla Guerra, national youth team players Nicholas Dillon, Nathaniel Garcia and Javon Sample and stand-outs Marvin Oliver, Jamal Jack, Elton John and Jason Marcano.

Sancho and Harrison were founding members of Central FC, three years ago, and continued to be involved in the club’s affairs over the past eight months, despite also working for the People’s Partnership Government as Sport Minister and Advisor to the Sport Minister respectively.

However, a series of exclusive articles on Wired868 showed suspicious behaviour by the pair, which was directly related to their stewardship at the “Couva Sharks.”

In one email from Harrison on 27 August 2014, the Englishman asked British football agent Steve Davies to “slip in a personal payment” related to the transfer of Trinidad and Tobago international forward Rundell Winchester to Belgium lower division club, CS Visé, which was to be split between Harrison and Sancho.

Davies rebuffed the request.

CONCACAF also confirmed to Wired868 that, on 16 June 2015, Harrison asked the football confederation to wire money due to the Sharks to Sancho’s personal bank account. CONCACAF’s statement directly contradicted assertions by Sancho, Harrison and Central that the request was made before his appointment as Sport Minister.

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has opened a probe into both matters and also asked Sancho and Harrison to explain their behaviour in the signing of then 16 year old attacker Levi Garcia and the alleged non-payment of promised bonuses to Central players.

Sancho and Harrison were given a deadline of Friday September 18 to respond to the local football body.

“(The players) don’t want Sancho and Harrison back for the reasons that they are unscrupulous and dishonest,” a Central source told Wired868, on the condition of anonymity. “We are hearing that even potential sponsors are concerned about them being involved with the club. The players definitely want no part of them.”

In their petition this morning, the Sharks also hinted at a concern over contracts as they vowed not to be pressured into replacing their existing deals: “The players of Central FC are not prepared to sign new amended contracts to replace our existing agreements with the club.”

A well-placed anonymous source explained that Central players have been asked by club management to sign new contracts, which make them responsible for paying tax on their income. Thus far, the players have refused.

Central FC is owned by SIS officials Daren Mohamdally and Ronald Ramlogan and Wired868 was reliably informed that they have been trying to sell the club for the past month.

It is uncertain whether SIS’ apparent haste to abandon the Sharks is due to the September 7 election results—SIS is a major financier of the United National Congress (UNC)—or the recent revelations about the conduct of the club chairman, Sancho. Or a combination of the two.

But Sancho, who was said to be in a precarious personal financial situation at the start of the year, is now believed to have put together a bid for the club. Central officials remain tightlipped on the matter.

Central manager Kevin Jeffrey said he could not comment on the possible return of Sancho and Harrison or the sale of the football club. He did not know about the players’ petition either.

“I’ve been busy with our (CONCACAF) Champions League business whole day,” Jeffrey told Wired868. “I don’t know anything about a petition signed by the players. But I will definitely call now to find out.”

Jeffrey asked Wired868 to ring him back in 10 minutes. However, he did not answer subsequent phone calls or return our calls.

Wired868 also tried unsuccessfully to reach Mohamdally.

The Sharks, who are the reigning Caribbean and Pro League champions, will face Guatemalan outfit, Comunicaciones, from 8 pm tomorrow in a decisive CONCACAF Champions League fixture at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.

Fellow Pro League outfit, DIRECTV W Connection, hosts Costa Rican champion, Deportivo Saprissa, from 8 pm today at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Central FC, in an unusual move for the club, did not put its players in a live-in camp before the Champions League fixture. And there is internal suspicion that SIS is trimming its budget, as Mohamdally and Ramlogan prepare exit strategies.

Sancho and Harrison always maintained their intention to return to Central if defeated at the polls and the former Sport Minister said as much in a phone-in to Andre Baptiste’s sport programme on I95.5 FM on Saturday 12 September 2015.

Harrison watched Central FC edge W Connection 1-0 last Friday to win the Charity Shield at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva. But it is now clear that the players do not wish to see much more of them.

The Central players’ show of disgust continues a remarkable fall from grace for Sancho and Harrison, who were key figures behind the now defunct Football Players Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT). Sancho was a founding member of FPATT while Harrison, a former voluntary member of Britain’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), was its “special advisor.”

It is uncertain if either administrator will watch the Sharks play Comunicaciones tomorrow, although Harrison rarely misses games.

Arguably, the TTFA probe might be of more concern to Sancho and Harrison. If the two men are found guilty of improper conduct, the local football body can impose a range of disciplinary measures, which range from warnings to being banned from entering any football stadium and taking part in football-related activities.

Wired868 understands that the pair’s response—or non-response—to the TTFA’s questions will be forwarded by general secretary Sheldon Phillips to his executive committee for consideration.

The TTFA executive committee could then choose to send the case to its Disciplinary Committee, which is chaired by Newton George. Or it can put the issue before its Ethics or Player Status Committees, which are to be implemented soon under the new constitution.

Sancho is a former litigant against the TTFA and, as Sport Minister, repeatedly criticised the football body for a lack of transparency and empathy for its football players.

Editor’s Note: Brent Sancho and Kevin Harrison have both written blogs for Wired868 and participated in Wired868’s annual football festival.
However, Wired868 will not waver in its goal to provide honest and pertinent news to its readers, regardless of the personalities involved.

Bakes · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2015, 03:08:20 PM »

I got wind of this yesterday and say "lemme just hold off and watch de ride." As I said, despite all de gun talk from Sanko and dem, it will be a while before the two of them have anything to do with football again. This part here is particularly rich:

"'(The players) don’t want Sancho and Harrison back for the reasons that they are unscrupulous and dishonest,' a Central source told Wired868, on the condition of anonymity. 'We are hearing that even potential sponsors are concerned about them being involved with the club. The players definitely want no part of them.'"

The irony.

asylumseeker · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2015, 04:54:48 PM »

Once upon a time, there was an ambitious noble who tried to dethrone the king, by staging a palace coup, so he could take control under the guise of being named regent of the heir to the throne, who was the eldest of the young princes. However, the noble misread the wizard's ancient thermometer, and thought Hell was freezing over ... when, in fact, the temperature was rising and Hell was actually slowly becoming hotter.

One of the reasons the attempted palace coup failed was because the ambitious noble, who held the titles: Duke Plenipotentiary of Belmont, Minister of the Palace and Chancellor of the Transferred Exchequer, didn't pay his soldiers on time, and dickered with the knights of influence regarding the taxes he levied. Consequently, morale plunged within the ranks of the junior nobility.

Recognizing an opportunity, all of the young princes pooled tithes from their various fiefs, to put food for the soldiers to eat and thus forged a great collaboration with the unpaid discontented soldiers and insulted influential Knights of the Ball.

A writ went out across the Kingdom and those loyal to the king, moved to banish the ambitious duke from the central plains. One foreign lord accompanied him to live on the border of the Kingdom. Twas midnight in the garden of Goode and Evile when the sorcerer sacrificed the Kingdom's once-favoured son for breaking the covenants.

Excellency before you I come with my representation ... You know where I'm coming from.

Deeks · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2015, 05:06:53 PM »

I do hope this club don't end up being a 4 yr wonder. The last thing pro clubs need right now is for sponsors to run away.

palos · « **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2015, 06:52:28 PM »

Quote from: asylumseeker on September 16, 2015, 04:54:48 PM

Once upon a time, there was an ambitious noble who tried to dethrone the king, by staging a palace coup, so he could take control under the guise of being named regent of the heir to the throne, who was the eldest of the young princes. However, the noble misread the wizard's ancient thermometer, and thought Hell was freezing over ... when, in fact, the temperature was rising and Hell was actually slowly becoming hotter.

One of the reasons the attempted palace coup failed was because the ambitious noble, who held the titles: Duke Plenipotentiary of Belmont, Minister of the Palace and Chancellor of the Transferred Exchequer, didn't pay his soldiers on time, and dickered with the knights of influence regarding the taxes he levied. Consequently, morale plunged within the ranks of the junior nobility.

Recognizing an opportunity, all of the young princes pooled tithes from their various fiefs, to put food for the soldiers to eat and thus forged a great collaboration with the unpaid discontented soldiers and insulted influential Knights of the Ball.

A writ went out across the Kingdom and those loyal to the king, moved to banish the ambitious duke from the central plains. One foreign lord accompanied him to live on the border of the Kingdom. Twas midnight in the garden of Goode and Evile when the sorcerer sacrificed the Kingdom's once-favoured son for breaking the covenants.

Excellency before you I come with my representation ... You know where I'm coming from.

Very nice

Like the Steel Pulse reference too

congo · « **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2015, 07:21:26 PM »

I had no grouse with Sanko until I saw this man got up on stage and accepted money from Kamla as payment somehow for their participation in 2006 world cup. Never mind the fact that taxpayers monies were being distributed willy nilly. This man got up and graciously accepted it knowing full well it wasn't his to accept. The minute I saw that he was comfortable being a political pawn I lost all respect for the man. He needs to cut his locks next...He's a disgrace.

vb · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2015, 11:31:14 PM »

These players that signed the letter, how many were refused the requested bonuses for winning the CFU Cup.

VB

Flex · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2015, 02:32:06 AM »

Central FC players against return of Sancho and Harrison.
T&T Guardian Reports.

Senior players Jan-Michael Williams, Marvin Oliver, Jason Marcano, Elton John, Ataullah Guerra, Kerry Baptiste, Yonhance Ennis and Willis Plaza are among a group of 24 players of Central FC who have signed a petition against the return to the club management of former Minister of Sport Brent Sancho and his advisor Englishman Kevin Harrison.

The issue came up on Friday last when Harris, who served the club as Operations Manager, prior to being appointed advisor to Sancho ventured into the Central FC dressing room to congratulate the players following their 1-0 win in the Digicel Charity Shield final, the 2015/2016 T&T Pro League curtain raiser at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

However, according to sources close to the team, Harrison’s presence did not go down too well with the players, mainly because of the recent allegations and speculations surrounding his and Sancho’s head over player and money transfers involving the club.

The source added, “Kevin (Harrison) came in and congratulated the players after the match and acted like everything was normal between him and the team, when the issue of bonus payments from our dominant campaign last season is still outstanding.

“We all know all is not well and as a precautionary measure that it does not happen again in the near future until all matters with respect to him and Brent Sancho are resolved, there presence among the team and especially in our dressing room will not be welcomed, because they both know all is not well between all parties.

Contacted for comment, former national captain, Anthony Rougier who replaced Harrison as the Team Operations Manager said he was not aware of a letter being submitted by the players to the team’s managerial staff stating their displeasure with respect to Harrison’s presence on Friday last and any in the near future.

However, the letter signed by the players was address to Rougier and it was absolutely clear that the players of Central FC were not in favour of to see the return of Sancho and Harrison returning to the club with so many allegations outstanding against them.

Other players to sign the petition included Nicholas Dillon, Marcus Joseph, Ataulla Guerra, Nathaniel Garcia, Javon Sample, Darren Mitchell, Jamal Jack, Kaydien Gabriel, Kevon Villaroel, Kerry Baptiste, Andre Ettienne, Elijah Manners, Akeem Benjamin, Keion Goodridge, Aaron Kenndey, Tyrik Nicholas and Isaih Lopez.

However, the quintet of Leston Paul, Kerwin Mitchell, Sean De Silva, Marcelle Francois and Akil Clarke did not signed the petition.

Only on Sunday, Harrison and Sancho were given a Friday September 18 deadline by the T&T Football Association to respond to allegations of improper contract dealings and broken promises to Central FC players who won a maiden Digicel T&T Pro League and Caribbean Football Union Club Championship crowns amid seven titles last season.

In separate letters addressed to both men on September 10, the TTFA stated: As a member of Concacaf and in keeping with its regulatory obligations and responsibilities it was requesting written statements from both individuals or their appointed representative in addressing a number of allegations for the purpose of providing a forum to clarify and inform the TTFA in determining whether further action is warranted.

asylumseeker · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2015, 06:07:40 AM »

The share price of the New York Times would plummet if they made the sort of errors, the Guardian make consistently. Apparently, they are not interested in instilling confidence. Worse now that they have a global audience. Destroying a product of national signficance. smh.

Anyway, any word from those who did not sign? Ah want to know, but they are not compelled to say.

weary1969 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2015, 10:34:08 AM »

Quote from: congo on September 16, 2015, 07:21:26 PM

I had no grouse with Sanko until I saw this man got up on stage and accepted money from Kamla as payment somehow for their participation in 2006 world cup. Never mind the fact that taxpayers monies were being distributed willy nilly. This man got up and graciously accepted it knowing full well it wasn't his to accept. The minute I saw that he was comfortable being a political pawn I lost all respect for the man. He needs to cut his locks next...He's a disgrace.

ENT and COSIGN

MEP · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2015, 10:59:57 PM »

poetic justice..

Explainer said it best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgSMGwIwHpQ

Flex · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2015, 05:15:41 AM »

Sancho dismisses players’ petition
T&T Newsday Reports.

FORMER SPORTS minister Brent Sancho has described as “fantasy” recent stories appearing in the media that have raised questions about him and his former advisor in the ministry, Kevin Harrison.

The former national football team defender was responding yesterday to an enquiry about a document appearing in a local online publication that purports to be a petition signed by several Central FC players, in which they are asking management to keep both men out of the TT Pro League club.

Sancho said he would not comment on any of articles, including the story that appeared on Wired868.com.

“I wouldn’t read (stories from Wired) any more than I would stories in the Sunshine Newspaper or the TT Mirror,” he told Newsday. “Mostly, those stories have absolutely no truth to them. People have their own personal agendas; it’s all fantasy.” The online story reported that some 24 Central FC players had signed the petition, and attached to it was a photograph of a document bearing the names of several players, most of them accompanied by signatures.

Among the names with signatures appearing on the document were those of national players Jan-Michael Williams, Ataulla Guerra and Willis Plaza, as well as Marvin Oliver and Jason Marcano.

Before his stint as Sports minister, Sancho was a manager at Central FC, a recently- formed club sponsored by Super Industrial Services Limited (SIS). Now into just its third year of existence, Central are the defending champions of the TT Pro League, the country’s major football competition. Asked for comment, CEO of the TT Pro League Dexter Skeene told Newsday it was the first he had heard of the letter and the alleged signatures.

The TT Pro League’s 2015/16 season officially got underway last Friday night, when Central claimed the first trophy at stake, the Charity Shield.

FF · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2015, 05:49:35 AM »

Wired868 is fantasy now eh, Sancho?

Sam · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2015, 06:38:38 AM »

So Lasana forge all these signatures?

Sancho and Harrison living in Disney Land

Thomo · « **Reply #14 on:** September 18, 2015, 06:41:08 AM »

Seems like Sancho is more of and I-D-I-O-T than I thought

MEP · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2015, 07:29:42 AM »

Quote from: FF on September 18, 2015, 05:49:35 AM

Wired868 is fantasy now eh, Sancho?

need to change his name to Sanksofar .....no way he could reach back and get his common sense.....

Oh by the way this was taken from wired868......
Brent Sancho and Kevin Harrison have both written blogs for Wired868 and participated in Wired868’s annual football festival.
However, Wired868 will not waver in its goal to provide honest and pertinent news to its readers, regardless of the personalities involved.

Bakes · « **Reply #16 on:** September 18, 2015, 08:08:02 AM »

Quote from: MEP on September 17, 2015, 10:59:57 PM

poetic justice..

Explainer said it best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgSMGwIwHpQ

Yuh showing yuh age man... what next, Poser classics?

MEP · « **Reply #17 on:** September 18, 2015, 08:16:45 AM »

Quote from: Bakes on September 18, 2015, 08:08:02 AM

Quote from: MEP on September 17, 2015, 10:59:57 PM
poetic justice..

Explainer said it best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgSMGwIwHpQ

Yuh showing yuh age man... what next, Poser classics?

lol yeah boy that did run through my mind...and I actually have it on vinyl too...

lefty · « **Reply #18 on:** September 18, 2015, 08:27:20 AM »

It damn good for them, no f**kin scruples or integrity.

Socapro · « **Reply #19 on:** September 18, 2015, 03:21:47 PM »

Quote from: MEP on September 18, 2015, 08:16:45 AM

Quote from: Bakes on September 18, 2015, 08:08:02 AM
Quote from: MEP on September 17, 2015, 10:59:57 PM
poetic justice..

Explainer said it best
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgSMGwIwHpQ

Yuh showing yuh age man... what next, Poser classics?

lol yeah boy that did run through my mind...and I actually have it on vinyl too...

Allyuh men old sah!! What is vinyl?

PS:
I also have it on vinyl. Its on Explainer's 1979/80 album called "Something Special".

Dutty · « **Reply #20 on:** September 18, 2015, 06:49:19 PM »

Quote from: asylumseeker on September 16, 2015, 04:54:48 PM

Once upon a time, there was an ambitious noble who tried to dethrone the king, by staging a palace coup, so he could take control under the guise of being named regent of the heir to the throne, who was the eldest of the young princes. However, the noble misread the wizard's ancient thermometer, and thought Hell was freezing over ... when, in fact, the temperature was rising and Hell was actually slowly becoming hotter.

A writ went out across the Kingdom and those loyal to the king, moved to banish the ambitious duke from the central plains. One foreign lord accompanied him to live on the border of the Kingdom. Twas midnight in the garden of Goode and Evile when the sorcerer sacrificed the Kingdom's once-favoured son for breaking the covenants.

Excellency before you I come with my representation ... You know where I'm coming from.

Nicely presented Bard

I await Act 2...on cyber-vellum no less

SWF Reporter · « **Reply #21 on:** September 21, 2015, 02:22:41 PM »

And the hilarious thing is both Brent Sancho and Kevin Harrison wrote blogs for Wired868 on multiple occasions. Lol.

Flex · « **Reply #22 on:** September 21, 2015, 02:38:14 PM »

Sharks tale: Bankers Insurance CEO restores Sancho and Harrison to Central posts
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).

Central FC is set for familiar new owners after Bankers Insurance CEO Vance Gabriel introduced himself to the “Couva Sharks” as their new boss on Saturday morning at the Kampo Vibes Restaurant on Ramsaran Street, Chaguanas.

And, at Gabriel’s side, were the controversial duo of former Central chairman Brent Sancho and operations director Kevin Harrison, who were the former Sport Minister and Advisor to the Sport Minister respectively.

The announcement followed weeks of speculation about the future of the Pro League club, which is co-owned by SIS directors Daren Mohamdally and Ronald Ramlogan.

The club ownership is believed to have switched hands on paper today, although neither Mohamdally nor Ramlogan have communicated with the Pro League club’s players or staff.

Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene said that he had not been informed of a change in ownership at Central either. However, Pro League rules do not give the board any say over change of ownership.

“The Pro League board is a limited liability company,” Skeene told Wired868, “and there is nothing in our company’s act hindering any change in ownership in the case of anyone purchasing the club or a change of shareholders.

“The Pro League doesn’t have any jurisdiction as far as clubs changing owners.”

Gabriel’s decision to take the reigns with Sancho and Harrison in tow has caused feverish discussions between players and staff.

The move follows exclusive Wired868 reports on the behaviour of both men, which includes the commingling of personal and Central FC funds and a request for a personal payment during transfer negotiations.

Sancho and Harrison are being probed by the the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) on: their conduct with regards to the transfers of Central forward Rundell Winchester, the signing of then 16-year-old winger Levi Garcia, the alleged misappropriation of CONCACAF funds and non-payment of bonuses to Central players.

And, last Wednesday, 24 of Central’s 29 first team players signed a petition that urged the club’s board of directors not to bring Sancho and Harrison around the team while so many allegations hung over their heads.

Gabriel spoke of the duo’s return as a glorious homecoming, though.

“Brent and Kevin were the original owners,” Gabriel told Wired868, “but SIS was doing most of the running of the club rather than the other way around. So what I am doing is restoring Brent and Kevin to their rightful place…

“We will run it like a business… With Brent and Kevin, we will put all the plans we had initially into place.”

In fact, Sancho and Harrison never owned Central, although they were co-founders. SIS always held on to the reigns of power but allowed the then Chairman and Operations Director to run the business end of of the club.

Their tenure saw, among other things, requests from Harrison—a British native—to Belgium lower division club, CS Visé, and CONCACAF to send money due to Central to the pair through Western Union or Sancho’s personal bank account.

But Gabriel said he is pleased to play a role in returning the duo to the administrative helm of the Pro League club.

Gabriel’s own relationship with Central started in January 2015 when Bankers Insurance was brought on board as a sponsor.

Wired868 attempted to get further information from Gabriel on the financial details of their Central take-over.

Will either Gabriel, Sancho or Harrison invest any of their own money into Central? Or will Bankers Insurance foot the tab while the three men enter the arrangement risk free?

Will Bankers Insurance have any formal stake in the team as SIS did? Or will the company be merely an advertiser while the trio runs the club and reaps the rewards?

Would Bankers Insurance now inject more sponsorship money into the club to run its affairs? Or would Gabriel, Sancho and Harrison look elsewhere to make up for the financial shortcoming?

The details remain scarce and Gabriel did not make himself available to answer more questions today.

On Saturday, the Bankers Insurance CEO was unmoved by the Central players’ petition against the return of Sancho and Harrison.

“I believe the players may have done that because they don’t know the whole truth,” said Gabriel.

Read More

maxg · « **Reply #23 on:** September 21, 2015, 03:02:01 PM »

welcome to T &T, where the action never stops... .
we have action within the action..
rukction for human consumption..
welcome to T&T ..
Trini to the bone, with slight pepper, no one eating alone
Bacchanal for so
no one know if to come or go
whichever way yuh choose
let me let yuh know
In TT we like it so

Agent Jack Bauer · « **Reply #24 on:** September 21, 2015, 03:04:02 PM »

Shame shame shame

Sam · « **Reply #25 on:** September 21, 2015, 03:13:03 PM »

Like ah say, nobody goes get penalize in T&T, they could get away with murder.

Expect to see spiteful Sancho get rid of de players who sign de paper.

And the TTFA probe is another waste because nothing will come out of it.

Agent Jack Bauer · « **Reply #26 on:** September 21, 2015, 03:44:52 PM »

Who is d 5 who eh sign?

Deeks · « **Reply #27 on:** September 21, 2015, 04:12:47 PM »

Despite all the bachannal, the club appears to be alive .... for now. It depends on how much Banker's intend to invest in the club. I hope is not a Jabloteh/Clico rerun. That is bad for the club, players and pro-league. This club has a substantial amount of national players, and it would not be nice for them to be in a bind because of financial problems, not to their making.

sub1 · « **Reply #28 on:** September 21, 2015, 04:51:14 PM »

Tim Kee can change all that with a stroke of a pen. A letter to FIFA making this duo Personas non grata and that is the end of their quest for fame. Don't put it past him. It will also raise his stakes with players and managers in the pro league.
Come on Raymond just do it and get rid of these cancers.

maxg · « **Reply #29 on:** September 21, 2015, 09:18:29 PM »

To paraphrase weary, one day you're the hero, next day you're the villian, 'one day the dog, next day the hydrant'

Add: now ah really worried, Jack might rise again,oui .