National footballers Arnold Dwarika and Nigel Pierre were yesterday fired by Joe Public Football club.
The two players had their contracts terminated by its owner, businessman Austin Jack Warner.
Warner said, "I had enough. They have things too easy and the discipline was not there. They're the best paid players in the country, but perhaps life is too easy at Joe Public." Warner, who is also a FIFA vice president said, "I'm going to re-structure the club so that each individual will own-up to his responsibilities."
Asked what will become of the two players, Warner replied, "They are free to play for whosoever they want on free transfers, while the other players would be relegated to the second team."
Warner said, "Joe Public players earned between T&T$7,500 and $4,000, a month and they work for just 90 minutes a week."
Dwarika, a midfielder and the club's ex-captain, was the 1999 and 2000 "Footballer of the Year". He got a house and car for his exploits on the field and was the best paid player at the club.
Warner's decision to sack the duo resulted from their participation in the Jogglers' Soccermania which took place at St Mary's College last month.
Another national standout with the club, defender Stokey Mason together with Adrian Narine, Joseph "Gouti" Peters, Kendall Velox, Pierre and Dwarika were sanctioned for breaking the club's rules by playing in the event.
Except for Dwarika, 29, and Pierre 22, the others have been relegated to play for the "Eastern Lions" in the Eastern Football Association.
The Club will also slash their salaries by half as part of the re-structuring process.
The six players did not suit up for Wednesday's Pro League encounter with Arima Fire which going into the match with only five of its regular players, Joe Public managed to scramble a 1-0 victory with an Andre Toussaint header in the 83rd minute.
Apart from Toussaint, the other regulars in the starting line-up were goalkeeper Donovan Thomas, skipper Dale Sanders, George Dublin and Gayson Gregory.
Eight of the club's Under-19 players were drafted into the side in the absence of the "Naughty Six". They were Davin Jordan, Hollis Brown, Sterling O'Brien, Julius James, Kevon Cornell, Terrance McAllister, Keiron Benito and Lincoln Brown.
Pierre said they all knew of the circumstances if they played in any competition not relating to the Pro League since it was scribed in their contracts but they took one chance too many.
Warner said the Joe Public budget is $3.8million annually and already this year he has spent $1.3 million on the club. Joe Public has been having one of its leanest seasons in top flight football since 1997 after joining the Semi-Pro League.
Team Administrator, Sam Phillip said yesterday that the decision by the management of the club to discipline the six players stemmed from their playing for another side without permission.
"We have a rule at the club where the players cannot play in any other league or game without our permission," said Phillip.
"If this rule is flouted, the guilty player or players face either suspension, a fine or relegated to a lower division," he added.
Phillip explained that Dwarika, Pierre, Mason, Narine, Peters and Velox will be closely monitored over the next month.
Dwarika who played a vital role in Trinidad and Tobago's final World Cup qualifying matches, has struggled to make it into the Eastern Lions starting lineup in the inaugural 2002 T&T Pro League football season, while Pierre was expected to return for trials in England later this month.
Jemmott has run afoul of club rules in the past, while Narine recently returned from an unsuccessful stint in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States It is understood Warner is not taking the situation lightly, especially with the current below-par performances of the Eastern Lions in the pro league. technical director Zoran Vranes said he too was dissatisfied with the unimpressive performances of some of his players.
"It is clear that some of these players are not giving their best. Some of them are not serious.
"We have to blood the younger players and give them a chance, and I hope Mr Warner supports my move to look more at the youngsters," Vranes said.