Former president of the T&T Super League (TTSL) Jameson Rigues and Keiron Edwards, the Eastern Football Association (EFA) president, will battle for support among the membership for the post of president when the Super League’s extraordinary general meeting (EGM) takes place virtually today from 6 pm.
The meeting will be used to elect, not only the president following the resignation of then-president Lee Davis and his first vice president Eddison Dean recently, but it will also seek to replace Nicholas Gopaul, another board member who resigned in the midst of accusations that the executive was not representing the interests of the members.
The members are seeking to capitalise on the bye-laws of its constitution that enable them the power to call an EGM in the absence of an executive and elect one.
Rigues said the constitution clearly gives the first vice president the right to act when there is no president, and the second vice president to act in a case where there is no first vice president, as he referred to in 13.5 of Board of Management, that states: “13.5 In the case of the absence or inability to act of the president, the first vice-president shall fill the position until the next general meeting, when a replacement will be elected for the remaining period of office. If the office of the vice president, assistant secretary and/or ordinary member of the Board of Management becomes vacant, the Board of Management shall fill the position(s) in question until the next General Meeting when a replacement will be elected for the remaining period of the office.
“14.10 If more than 50 per cent of the positions of the Board become vacant, the general secretary shall convene an EGM in order to hold elections for a new term. If the General Secretary is not available or fails to convene the EGM within the prescribed period, the Emergency Committee shall convene it.”
Edwards, who along with Ryan Ottley of the Defence Force, was beaten in a race for presidency by Davis at a virtual election back in 2021, has made it clear he will contest the position of president again.
Rigues held the position of interim super league president in 2020 following the resignation of Keith Look Loy, but he lost out against Clayton Morris, the former ‘Strike Squad’ captain at an AGM later that year.
Rigues said he was approached by a number of clubs to offer his services for president again and he obliged. He believes he will be the best choice, having worked throughout the super league system, noting that he has the interest of the league at heart.
Guardian Media Sports was told that Rigues, the former Guaya United manager could receive the bulk of support from the membership, as some members have said publicly they will reject Edwards.
“Clubs feel that Edwards are coming in from the outside with ulterior motives. They want to buy votes from clubs for a grander plan, but I want to assure you that no club is for sale in the super league.
“I plan to rejuvenate the super league and assure that clubs are up-to-date with all the requirements of the T&T Football Association. No club will be left behind. During my time as president, clubs believed I brought a brotherhood among the clubs and that is what they want again,” Rigues said.
Apart from the president’s position, the first vice president’s post which was held by Dean will also be filled. Michael Du Four of Cunupia FC will be contesting that position.
11