Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

IN ADDITION to a whopping three-year $150 million boost from new sponsors Cash Plus, the nation's Premier League will undergo another major change when the new season kicks off on September 30, as an additional round will be added to the competition.

In the recent past, the nation's top flight consisted of three rounds but a fourth has been added and will see the teams that finish 1-6 by the end of the third round and sides finishing 7-12 compete exclusively against each other in a final round.

The new structure is modelled on the Scottish Premier League format. In that competition, which was restructured in 1998, the league is split in half after 33 games once every club has played the others three times, whether twice away and once at home or vice-versa.

"There will be various pros and cons to it but we believe the benefits will outweigh the disadvantages. It should add some excitement to the league," said general secretary of the newly formed Premier League Clubs Association (PLCA), Howard McIntosh. "We believe that it can work. The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) put forward the format change and we accepted it and now we will have to try our best and make it work."

Independently run

In addition to the format change, the new league will pattern others around the world like the Scottish and English Premier Leagues in another important aspect as, in a sense, it should be independently run by PLCA by the start of next season.

While the JFF will have a seat on the board of the PLCA and will see to the running and operation of the Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL), it will no longer negotiate contracts on behalf of the PLCA or its member teams at that projected date.

This will speak to matters of sponsorship, media rights or any other revenue considerations.

"This is the type of system used in several other countries where those leagues are very successful." McIntosh said. "The ultimate objective is true professional football in Jamaica and I think right now that is where we are headed. With a new type of format and new title sponsors, I think it is an exciting time for local football."

The JFF-recognised PLCA consists of members from each of the 12 Premier League clubs and is expected to issue equal amounts of shares to each club in the league.

There will be regularly structured shareholder meetings where each member will have equal voting rights. At the end of the season, relegated clubs will transfer their shares to the newly promoted ones.