Schäfer’s severance deal agreed with JFF
GENERAL SECRETARY of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Raymond Grant confirmed to The Gleaner yesterday that an agreement has been reached with outgoing national senior team coach Winfried Schäfer and his legal representatives on his severance package after he was removed from his position following a miserable World Cup-qualifying campaign.
The German tactician, who is being represented by Queen’s Counsel K.D. Knight in the separation negotiations, failed in his bid to lead the Reggae Boyz to a second World Cup final following the nation’s appearance at the 1998 finals in France. The Jamaicans struggled to a last-place finish in the semi-final stage of CONCACAF qualifying with a single win, while scoring the least (two) and conceding the most (10) goals in their six games.
YET TO BE PAID
Grant, as expected, was not able to divulge too much detail on the deal, but shared that both parties had agreed on a fee to be paid to the coach, who still had two years remaining on his contract with the JFF, while adding that this figure was yet to be paid by the JFF.
“We are still discussing with a view to finalise,” said Grant. “We have not yet paid the fee. We are at a point where we understand what is to be paid. We have agreed on the amount; we have just not paid it as yet.” Winfried Schäfer
“I cannot say much more than that as part of the settlement agreement, there are things that we cannot disclose,” Grant added.
“What I can tell you is that both parties came to an amicable solution. Mr Schäfer and his legal representative, along with the JFF team, we discussed the separation agreement and it’s just for the JFF to handle the payment. I can only confirm at this time that we have not yet paid the settlement,” Grant noted.
As reported earlier, Theodore Whitmore will take charge of the team for upcoming Caribbean Cup qualifiers against Suriname on October 5 and Guyana on October 11, with Jerome Waite named as his assistant.
Grant confirmed the interim appointments and stated that the JFF will make a decision on a longer-term coaching solution after the Caribbean Cup qualifiers.