What about a: CARIBBEAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE?

[Football supporter]

To be honest T&T has one of the smallest top leagues in the Caribbean - even St Kitts and Nevis can get 10 teams in their top flight. I've never understood the small league size in T&T, at least until I realised how many cups you guys have! :p

As I understand it, I'm not even sure if Jamaica has a fully professional league. When you compare leagues with other islands, you have to include our Super League. In fact, the Super League is probably the equivalent to the other island leagues.
The Pro League is willing to expand, but clubs cannot afford to meet the financial criteria. In order to prevent situations like we had with Tobago and SouthEnd, clubs have to provide financial guarantees. One of the reasons for this is to protect players, because if their club goes bust, they cannot play for a new club until the transfer window. (Willis Plaza is suffering from this problem. His club went bankrupt, but we cannot sign him until January, even after appealing to FIFA) 

[Tiresais]

Isn't the decision to allow free-agent transfers down to the individual FA's? Or is there paperwork in terms of registration that isn't sorted out due to the bankruptcy? 

Interesting about the financial criteria - is that why Joe Public don't move up? The Super League is definitely better than the majority of Caribbean leagues and it's a shame you can't get in a proper promotion-relegation btw them and the Pro League, especially given how exciting the 'big six' seems for Super League promotion

[Football supporter]

Isn't the decision to allow free-agent transfers down to the individual FA's? Or is there paperwork in terms of registration that isn't sorted out due to the bankruptcy? 

Interesting about the financial criteria - is that why Joe Public don't move up? The Super League is definitely better than the majority of Caribbean leagues and it's a shame you can't get in a proper promotion-relegation btw them and the Pro League, especially given how exciting the 'big six' seems for Super League promotion

TT Pro League and TTFA sanctioned Plaza's move, but FIFA wouldn't allow it. But he can join a team in a country where the transfer window is open such as....Vietnam!

[Tiresais]

damn them! That really sucks... Does he know Yohance Marshal is in Vietnam looking for a team now? They could converse lol

[AB.Trini]

Ent I. Saying this could happen if people stop looking at barriers and look at feasible solutions. Little Antigua could put together a side to play in aisle .

[Deeks]

Well guys! What is this about. From Internet express.

Companies to start Caribbean League.
T&T Express Reports.

A California based company and a firm registered in Barbados have come together to stage a professional football league for teams in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean Football Trust Limited with offices in Florida and Canada and Concorde Sports Agency head quartered in Beverly Hills say plans are in the pipeline for a kickoff date of September 2015.

Both organisations have already signed an agreement and are pressing ahead with plans for the tournament expected to attract 20 teams competing for the league title and over three million US dollars in prize money.

The organisers say prize monies are expected to grow to five million US dollars after the first three years.

The proposed league, dubbed Major League Futbol, (MLS) will be the subject of a meeting in Orlando, Florida February 25 involving the Caribbean Football Trust, an advisory group of investors, regional government officials and other stakeholders of the league concept.

Concorde Sports Agency is a sports marketing firm which focuses on domestic and international player representation, player scouting, image rights and branding.

[Tiresais]

Well guys! What is this about. From Internet express.

Companies to start Caribbean League.
T&T Express Reports.

A California based company and a firm registered in Barbados have come together to stage a professional football league for teams in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean Football Trust Limited with offices in Florida and Canada and Concorde Sports Agency head quartered in Beverly Hills say plans are in the pipeline for a kickoff date of September 2015.

Both organisations have already signed an agreement and are pressing ahead with plans for the tournament expected to attract 20 teams competing for the league title and over three million US dollars in prize money.

The organisers say prize monies are expected to grow to five million US dollars after the first three years.

The proposed league, dubbed Major League Futbol, (MLS) will be the subject of a meeting in Orlando, Florida February 25 involving the Caribbean Football Trust, an advisory group of investors, regional government officials and other stakeholders of the league concept.

Concorde Sports Agency is a sports marketing firm which focuses on domestic and international player representation, player scouting, image rights and branding.

I wouldn't hold your breath - travel for 21 people 19 times across the Caribbean is quite an investment, and that's a lot of prize money without any announced sponsors yet

[Tallman]

The CFTL®’s newly established MLF will initially start its competitive season in 2015 with a minimum of eighteen (18) clubs in three (3) groups of six (6) clubs each and a maximum of twenty (20) clubs in four (4) groups of five (5) clubs. The MLF shall be operational for a period between September and July of each year. The first official competitive season shall consist of scheduled games three (3) days per week: Friday, Sunday and Wednesday; all double header games. The MLF shall organize, in addition to the regular season.

The MLF shall secure national teams and top clubs from selected Caribbean countries to make up the eighteen (18) or twenty (20) member league. The targeted countries for the first five (5) years are as follows: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, St Vincent, Suriname, French Guiana, Grenada, St. Bart’s and Puerto Rico. All of these could choose to participate with their young developing national teams (meaning locally-based players) and/or new/old clubs to include top elite players. The more developed football countries, such as Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Haiti can participate in the MLF through selected franchise clubs. Players from other CONCACAF countries, such as Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras and Venezuela will be considered as non-import players within the MLF structure. This will secure a Caribbean and Central American player infusion that is so badly needed in the Caribbean and Central American region.

http://www.cftlmlf.com/

[Tiresais]

The CFTL®’s newly established MLF will initially start its competitive season in 2015 with a minimum of eighteen (18) clubs in three (3) groups of six (6) clubs each and a maximum of twenty (20) clubs in four (4) groups of five (5) clubs. The MLF shall be operational for a period between September and July of each year. The first official competitive season shall consist of scheduled games three (3) days per week: Friday, Sunday and Wednesday; all double header games. The MLF shall organize, in addition to the regular season.

The MLF shall secure national teams and top clubs from selected Caribbean countries to make up the eighteen (18) or twenty (20) member league. The targeted countries for the first five (5) years are as follows: Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, St Vincent, Suriname, French Guiana, Grenada, St. Bart’s and Puerto Rico. All of these could choose to participate with their young developing national teams (meaning locally-based players) and/or new/old clubs to include top elite players. The more developed football countries, such as Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Haiti can participate in the MLF through selected franchise clubs. Players from other CONCACAF countries, such as Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras and Venezuela will be considered as non-import players within the MLF structure. This will secure a Caribbean and Central American player infusion that is so badly needed in the Caribbean and Central American region.

http://www.cftlmlf.com/

So everyone but the biggest basically using their national team?

[elan]

Next the League owners will own all rights to young [all] players just like MLS. From the initial countries to be involved, this seems to target a relatively untapped market in "digging" out potential players. More established countries like T&T and JA are already a target by major clubs in signing players internationally and in understanding the market of agent-player-transfers-fees-loans-clauses etc.

Smart business move, Selling 1 player every 3-5 years will show a very good ROI. Will like to see their development plan to assist clubs in developing players.

Good Idea.

[Tallman]

Caribbean Football League Case Study: http://www.concordesportsagency.com/caribbean-soccer-league-case-study.pdf

[Deeks]

So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.

[Football supporter]

More interestingly, how will effect CFU qualification? It is not a national league. Which Football Association would guide its rules? Which F.A. would confirm international transfers?
What would happen if F.A.'s decided not to recognise it?
This would be a unique league with unique problems.
I think the overall concept is good, but it could be the death of Pro League and other leagues. What would happen, for example, if they attracted Digicel who then redirected their resources towards this league?
I know it's dog eat dog, but it would also create opposition. 

[elan]

So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.

Maybe the winner of the TTPL league gets to represent T&T with support from the PL. Or Maybe like EPL (top 3 automatic birth to Cl and 5th place to Europa) the top 2 goes to CONCACAF Champions league then 3rd and 4th gets to go to the MLF or something along that line.

[Tiresais]

Given they're talking about franchise teams it's likely they'd be totally new teams tied to their legal entity rather than community a la the MLS

[Football supporter]

So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.

Maybe the winner of the TTPL league gets to represent T&T with support from the PL. Or Maybe like EPL (top 3 automatic birth to Cl and 5th place to Europa) the top 2 goes to CONCACAF Champions league then 3rd and 4th gets to go to the MLF or something along that line.

This wouldn't work. Like the Pro League, the first criteria would be paying the entrance fee! Also, in theory, you could end up with 6 or 7 teams from one country.
This will be a members only club. Also, presumably, the T&T entrants would attract the best T&T players so the Pro League winners may be way below the standard of the MLF clubs. If this is replicated across the Caribbean it could dilute the quality of CFU and Champions League.

The only way to make it work is for CFU to appoint this league as the qualifying route for Champions League, which wouldn't be fair to the smaller nations.

[Deeks]

As of now I only see one team in TT that can go into that  league. Connection. They seem to have a sound financial foundation. Sharks have a nice collection players, but this team now started last year. Unless FS, can get Barclays bank to sponsor him it will be tough for them. All the others are barely surviving.  It would have be nice to have a Sando team, but they don't even have a team in the pro-league. I think DF can play but with the recent situation in TT, I don't see them being part of this league.

As far as Concacf CL. If this league really get started, then the winners and runners up should get automatic berth to the CL. The  other berths should be taken by the winners and runners up of the CFU club championship.

I hope the Concorde group has an Arab sheik in their engines, because this enterprise will take a lot of money. This is not like the cricket with limited franchises. And cricket is a English Caribbean thing. The other just don't understand the nuances of the game.  Theis enterprise is set to transcend liguistic and cultural barriers. The travel cost will be a bitch(sorry ladies). Accommodation. Proper grounds.  No Vai-kee-vai fixtures.

I feel the CFU is already on board with this. The guys in the northern Caribbean already set to go. They already controlling the CFU.  They are closer to the US market and they have that tourist travel which help them more than the eastern and southern Caribbean.

[elan]

So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.

Maybe the winner of the TTPL league gets to represent T&T with support from the PL. Or Maybe like EPL (top 3 automatic birth to Cl and 5th place to Europa) the top 2 goes to CONCACAF Champions league then 3rd and 4th gets to go to the MLF or something along that line.

This wouldn't work. Like the Pro League, the first criteria would be paying the entrance fee! Also, in theory, you could end up with 6 or 7 teams from one country.
This will be a members only club. Also, presumably, the T&T entrants would attract the best T&T players so the Pro League winners may be way below the standard of the MLF clubs. If this is replicated across the Caribbean it could dilute the quality of CFU and Champions League.

The only way to make it work is for CFU to appoint this league as the qualifying route for Champions League, which wouldn't be fair to the smaller nations.

How do T&T teams qualify for the CCL now?

[Football supporter]

So, how will this affect the Trini pro league. Which TT teams you think will or can play in this league.

Maybe the winner of the TTPL league gets to represent T&T with support from the PL. Or Maybe like EPL (top 3 automatic birth to Cl and 5th place to Europa) the top 2 goes to CONCACAF Champions league then 3rd and 4th gets to go to the MLF or something along that line.

This wouldn't work. Like the Pro League, the first criteria would be paying the entrance fee! Also, in theory, you could end up with 6 or 7 teams from one country.
This will be a members only club. Also, presumably, the T&T entrants would attract the best T&T players so the Pro League winners may be way below the standard of the MLF clubs. If this is replicated across the Caribbean it could dilute the quality of CFU and Champions League.

The only way to make it work is for CFU to appoint this league as the qualifying route for Champions League, which wouldn't be fair to the smaller nations.

How do T&T teams qualify for the CCL now?

Top two teams in the Pro League, which is recognised by TTFA as its representative professional league

[Dynamite Warrior]

I agree FS, this league could possibly destroy all Caribbean leagues. The thing is this really only affects the pro league. Most other leagues are not really professional at all. Concacaf stated that they would support a Caribbean league therefore all the FA's would probably be pushed to approve this. After reading the case study i think it is promising but alot of things look promising on paper. The fact that this competition would have national teams playing as clubs intrigues me. Playing in the USL helped Antigua, and other countries would probably benefit from this format as well. Plus the competition would probably be stronger than any domestic league. But I just dont think that it is profitable so i doubt it would work.

[elan]

Caribbean Football League Case Study: http://www.concordesportsagency.com/caribbean-soccer-league-case-study.pdf

That read like a sophomore business management class report.


This seems to depend on a lot of political maneuvering and rewriting of policies and laws, not to mention the modification of long existing areas of contention between nations.

[BBL]

Damien Hughes of CFU asks the companies involved to contact him.

CFU general secretary Damien Hughes, issued the note of caution after two companies, earlier this week, announced plans to start a professional league in September next year.
“For franchises to be set up in countries they have to go through national associations who have to get sanctioning from CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA,” said Hughes.
“And we have not engaged any company anywhere in the world to commence or even explore the commencement of a professional league.”
The Caribbean Football Trust Limited, with offices in Florida and Canada, and Concorde Sports Agency, headquartered in Beverly Hills, say the proposed league, dubbed Major League Futbol (MLF), is expected to attract 20 teams from across the region vying for over US$3 million in prize money.
“Anything that is attempted independently is not going to be sustainable and I don’t think it is going to be possible,” the CFU general secretary stated.
“The constitution of all the member organisations speaks to the processes and the steps and where permission and sanctioning and so on need to come from.”
The organisers say prize monies are expected to grow to US$5M after the first three years of MLF.
Last year, CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb announced that a task force is to be established to look at the development of a professional league in the Caribbean.
“A professional league in the region is something that CONCACAF and the CFU entities have said is worth pursuing and exploring,” Hughes added.
“So any entity that is desirous of partnering with CFU or CONCACAF in a developmental initiative, the best approach would then be to present such a case to the respective bodies.”

[Tiresais]

Exactly what I suspected...

[Flex]

With prize monies expected to be five million US dollars plus and then I am assuming 2nd and 3rd place may also get a piece then how can this be a bad thing.

Imagine what 5 million USD would do for any T&T team who, by the way has a really good chance of winning it as they hold the most titles.

I am sure they could run it similar to the way Europe runs the CL. Unfortunately, some teams may play 2 maybe 3 games a week but that the price of a big pay out, hard work.

I thing this could work it will also improve the Caribbean players, draw big sponsors and generate crowd and TV support.

Liat, hotels and Caribbean Airlines would reap benefits, so hopefully they will jump onboard as sponsors.

This is good, hard work goes a long way.

The top two teams in each country will participate and then the top 3 move on to the CCL.

There are so many benefits from this, they just have to plan it properly.

Players will also be seen and benefit from outside contracts and once teams start winning they would be able to build their own fields, pay players better and have a Caribbean Union with health benefits and so on.

MLS is doing it, so can we. From LA to NY is a longer trip than any Caribbean nation to another.

[Tiresais]

The problem is that they have no backing - it's like I say "I'm going to set up a London league with $5 million in prize money" and then set up a company to do that. Without the backing of the local FA, national FA, and sponsorship partners it's just the wind talking.

Lets look at what the facts are

1) no announced sponsors
2) no working agreements or even conversations with the CFU
3) no announced agreements with local FAs
4) their business plan relies on these
5) No costings in the proposals - i.e. how much each club would pay, how much their on-going operation would cost
6) No feasibility study from independent body


This proposal is nothing but wishful thinking until it has some solid backing and sponsors, then they need to meticulously plan out the commitments needed from league partners before they can think about pitching a transnational league like this.

[Sando]

With prize monies expected to be five million US dollars plus and then I am assuming 2nd and 3rd place may also get a piece then how can this be a bad thing.

Imagine what 5 million USD would do for any T&T team who, by the way has a really good chance of winning it as they hold the most titles.

I am sure they could run it similar to the way Europe runs the CL. Unfortunately, some teams may play 2 maybe 3 games a week but that the price of a big pay out, hard work.

I thing this could work it will also improve the Caribbean players, draw big sponsors and generate crowd and TV support.

Liat, hotels and Caribbean Airlines would reap benefits, so hopefully they will jump onboard as sponsors.

This is good, hard work goes a long way.

The top two teams in each country will participate and then the top 3 move on to the CCL.

There are so many benefits from this, they just have to plan it properly.

Players will also be seen and benefit from outside contracts and once teams start winning they would be able to build their own fields, pay players better and have a Caribbean Union with health benefits and so on.

MLS is doing it, so can we. From LA to NY is a longer trip than any Caribbean nation to another.

Flex, Caribbean people cant see beyond they eyebrow.

Good points.

[Deeks]

The league is a good idea. But anybody outsider coming with such an enterprise must have plenty money and a sound business plan. And of course must consult with the regional football union. The cricket had the Indians with big money behind it. Plus they only had 6 teams and the tournament lasted 2 months. Football will have 20 teams and will run 8 to 9 months. Different logistics involved. Don't blame the Caribbean people for their lack of vision. There is an abundance being wasted away. We really lack resources to put our vision into fruition. This was tried before and lasted 2 years. The lack of money was always the issue.

[BBL]

This was tried before and lasted 2 years. The lack of money was always the issue.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Professional_Football_League

It's hard to disagree, I just can't see it working.

[soccerrama]

This task force has been set up to examine the feasibility and sustainability of a future Caribbean Professional League. The inaugural meeting will be held in Los Angeles, California later this month.


CARIBBEAN PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE TASK FORCE
 
CHAIRMAN
 
Dr. Yves Jean-Bart
President, Haitian Football Federation 
 
MEMBERS
 
Dr. The Right Honourable Keith Mitchell
Prime Minister of Grenada 
 
The Right Honourable Edward Seaga, ON, PC
Former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of the Jamaican National Premier League 
 
Mr. Damien Hughes
General Secretary, Caribbean Football Union
 
Mr. Simon Firth
Partner, Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands
 
Mr. Don Garber
Commissioner, Major League Soccer
 
Mr. David John Williams
Owner/President, W Connection Football Club, Trinidad and Tobago 
 
Mr. Decio de Maria
President, Liga MX
 
Mr. Randy Harris
President Barbados Football Association
 
Mr. James Johnson
Senior Manager Member Associations, FIFA
 
Mr. Shaka Hislop
Football Commentator and Former Trinidad & Tobago National Team Captain   
 
SPECIAL ADVISORS
 
The Premier League
 
Mr. Jefferson Slack
Senior Vice President, Global Business Development, IMG
 
Mr. Kieran Foley
Group Head Marketing, Digicel

[Flex]

David John Williams is an excellent choice.

Concacaf names T&T’s Williams to Pro League task force.
T&T Guardian Reports.

MIAMI—Trinidad and Tobago’s David John Williams, the owner and president of W Connection, which campaigns in the T&T Pro League has been named to a Task Force established by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) to study the viability of a professional football league in the Caribbean.

The Task Force also includes Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell and former Jamaica prime minister Edward Seaga have been named to a nine-member Task Force.

The Speaker of the Bermuda House of Assembly, Randolph Horton is also included on the task force that Concacaf yesterday said would be backed by advisers from the major leagues in England and the United States.

It said the task force would examine the feasibility of a Caribbean professional football league, as the Confederation deepens its commitment to the growth of the game across the region.

This will be the second effort to establish a professional league in the Caribbean. A previous attempt to institute a Caribbean league lasted from 1992-1994, when clubs from as far north as Jamaica and south as Guyana competed in the now defunct Caribbean Professional Football League.

“I am certain that there are immense untapped opportunities for football in the Caribbean,” said Concacaf President Jeffrey Webb.

“We need to evaluate thoroughly how best to convert potential into a viable structure that could create new futures for clubs, players, fans and the game as a whole.”

The task force, chaired by Horton, also includes leading figures from the two biggest leagues in Concacaf—Don Garber, Commissioner of Major League Soccer in the United States, and Decio de Maria, President of Liga MX in Mexico. It is scheduled to hold its first meeting in Miami on March 24.

“Our focus will be to analyse the feasibility of a sustainable business model—one that can serve as the cornerstone to build a league that provides a platform for Caribbean talent, as it develops equity and value in the long term,” said Garber.

Chief Executive of the English Premier League, Richard Scudamore, said the intention is to make available, the entire executive team available to offer assistance to the Caribbean in realising the potential for top-class professional football.

The task force is charged with analysing all the possible options for developing a sustainable league structure in the Caribbean, with the objective of improving playing standards and overall professionalism.

According to Concacaf, as some nations in the Caribbean possess established domestic leagues, the group will review current infrastructures and assess what competitive format would achieve the best outcomes for long-term success.

The members are: Dr. Keith Mitchell (Prime Minister of Grenada); Damien Hughes (General Secretary, Caribbean Football Union); Simon Firth (Partner, Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands); Don Garber (Commissioner, US Major League Soccer); . Edward Seaga (former Prime Minister of Jamaica and Chairman of Jamaica’s Premier League); David John Williams (Owner/President, W Connection Football Club, Trinidad and Tobago); Decio de Maria (President, Liga MX); Yves Jean-Bart (President, Haitian Football Federation) and Randy Harris (President, Barbados Football Federation).

Special advisors to the task force are: The English Premier League; Jefferson Slack (Senior vice-president, Global Business Development, IMG) and Kieran Foley (group head marketing, Digicel). ReThink Management and MCM Consulting Ltd. have been named as consultants to the group.