FORMER board member of the TT Football Association (TTFA) Brent Sancho, said the situation concerning the salary of national senior men’s football coach Terry Fenwick is unfortunate, as the former TTFA executive is demonstrating a lack of transparency which goes against what their election campaign stood for.
According to local football website wired868.com, Fenwick was hired in December 2019 to replace Dennis Lawrence as head coach after the board voted 8-1 with the understanding that he would be paid US $17,500 per month with other bonuses. In the incentive package, Fenwick would start earning US $20,000 a month if the team qualified for the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup. However, ousted TTFA president William Wallace, general secretary Ramesh Ramdhan and Fenwick signed an agreement that meant the national coach would receive a starting salary of US $20,000 per month and it would increase to US $25,000 if the team qualified for the Gold Cup.
The additional US $2,500 per month came through sponsorship (not revealed) as Fenwick was not satisfied with his contract according to wired868. The US $2,500 extra was included on the main contract instead of a separate contract.
Wallace and his executive led the TTFA from November 2019 to March 2020, but were removed by Fifa and a normalisation committee was appointed. The main job of the normalisation committee is to get rid of the huge debt facing the local football body. Sancho, asked if this justifies the normalisation committee stepping in to run local football, told Newsday, “I guess that is a question for Fifa. Remember Fifa hasn’t said anything in detail on the reasoning (for taking over).”
The former national defender said he asked Wallace and his team to be more transparent, but they operated how the past administration did. “From where I sit as a former board member I had raised my concerns, I sent several e-mails regarding transparency. So from where I sit I am not surprised because I saw it coming. It is unfortunate, very unfortunate particularly this group would have come in on the platform of transparency, inclusiveness and accountability, but I did not find any of that from where I sit....that is something that they chastised rightfully the last regime for.”
TTFA member Keith Look Loy described the mix up concerning Fenwick’s salary as “disappointing.”
“Whatever arrangements sponsors arrived at is not TTFA business...my interest is only what was agreed by the board and what TTFA is responsible for and that is what I will stand by. I only found out about additional side deals today (Wednesday). The rest of us knew nothing about that and therefore that should not have been included in any contract for services to be provided by the TTFA. Had I heard about it I would not have agreed to that, I would have opposed that, that has nothing to do with TTFA. That is somebody side deal.”
Look Loy was a part of the Wallace-led election campaign which made it more disappointing for him. He said the situation comes across as if they are not keeping their word. “It does not look good, it makes it look like if people who have been talking about transparency and accountability just talking. I am not happy with it, I am not happy with that at all.”
Asked if this will affect the ousted TTFA’s chances in their fight against Fifa to appoint a normalisation committee, Look Loy said, “Who knows, I will be frank this is not good.”
Head of the FIFA-appointed normalisation committee Robert Hadad declined comment on the issue and calls to both William Wallace and Terry Fenwick were unanswered.
Videos -
Zone Investigates: Terry Fenwick's football contract with TTFA
Zone Investigates: William Wallace responds to questions on Fenwick's TTFA contract irregularities