NFF Rejects LMC’s Sack

The Nigeria Football Fed
eration (NFF)yesterday rejected a decision by club owners/managers in the premier league to sack the League Management Company (LMC), which was appointed by the association last year.
A statement signed by Ademola Olajire, Assistant Director (Media), NFA, quoted Aminu Maigari, President of the association as saying:  “the League Management Company remains in place”.
It said the LMC was inaugurated by the NFA and granted a licence to administer the league on its behalf and could only be stopped by the association.
“I am shocked to hear about a meeting of club owners/managers, where they reportedly told the LMC to hand over to the secretariat of the league.
“That is not within their purview. It is the responsibility of the NFA to determine the fate of the LMC.
“The LMC has done well within the past 10 months, to reposition the premier league and they deserve commendation’’.
The statement noted that the club managers themselves admitted that the LMC brought several innovations to the running of the league. “Why would we want to throw all that away in a hurry?
“As far as the NFA, the supreme football-governing body in Nigeria, is concerned, the LMC remains firmly in place and will have the opportunity to continue its good work for a period to be determined shortly.’’
It urged the club owners to be focused on improving the structures of their teams, in line with the demands of professional football.
“Sincerely speaking, the NFA will always accord the club owners their regard and we see them as critical stakeholders in the development of the game in our country,’’ the statement added.
“The NFA has the prerogative on issues bordering on the running of the game in Nigeria and has not conceded this authority to any other group or body,’’ it said.
The statement added: “Should the club managers have any grouse with the way the league is being administered, they should approach the NFA with their misgivings’’.
It was gathered that a meeting of club owners was held in Abuja on October 30 at which they resolved to declare in their communiqué that the LMC’s tenure had expired and proceeded to announce the sack of the body.