According to T&T Pro League chairman Larry Romany the league is beginning an important and exciting phase in it's history.
The League in Romany's view has turned the corner and is now well on course. He however cautions that there are challenges still to overcome.
The return of JOE PUBLIC to the League and the TTFF accepting a T&T Pro League proposal to manage the Super league is tangible evidence of the progress made.
Romany said it was heartening to hear the kind words expressed by Mr. Warner at the media conference on Wednesday. It is no secret that Mr. Warner withdrew JOE Public from the PRO LEAGUE due to dissatisfaction with the operations and doubts about the future of professional football.
Romany admitted that when he accepted the appointment as Chairman of the PRO LEAGUE , close friends and some in The TTOC questioned his sanity. The additional fact that he had no football pedigree as such may have caused some concern to some in the football fraternity while others questioned his agenda in accepting the honorary position.
"It has been a difficult and taxing three years where at times the only thing that kept me going was an indomitable self belief and an unwavering commitment to provide the talented footballers of T&T with an honest means of using their god given talent".
The league's chairman believes that the important ingredients were the refusal to let anyone talk the league out of having a big vision, not accept excuses or make lack of money be the scapegoat. “We created a culture of innovation, hired a well qualified CEO with football pedigree and gave the CEO [Dexter Skeene], his staff and the marketing committee the freedom to think out of the box and try new ideas no matter how outrageous they may have seemed".
The Ministry of Sport, The Tobago House of Assembly and Corporate sponsors such as FCB, SPORTS AND Games, Lucozade, Toyota, Sportflex , KFC and Courts supported the League's new ideas in marketing and promoting the league.
Romany asserts the League has taken on the challenge of expansion, in addition to managing the Super League, because it is imperative if the PRO League is to improve the quality and standard of football.
The significance and implication of this cannot not be understated. "In the three years, we have always maintained open and honest dialogue with The TTFF and Mr. Warner. There would have been times when we may not have seen eye to eye on things but always in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual respect. Under my watch, I have always insisted that the PRO LEAGUE is not in competition but in partnership with all the football stakeholders and Mr. Warner's endorsement of the efforts we have made to keep the league alive is deeply appreciated. Mr. Warner's vision, passion and commitment for T&T’s football is unquestioned. He never wavered in his vision or doubted that T&T will one day make it to a FIFA WORLD CUP".