Justin Latapy, brother of T&T Football Association staff coach Russell Latapy, is the new general secretary of the TTFA.
Latapy, a former director of sports at the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), got the nod in a rigorous recruitment exercise in which there were 57 applicants, inclusive of people from the Caribbean and Europe.
His appointment comes in the wake of legal action being pursued against the TTFA by Sheldon Phillips, a former general secretary for wrongful dismissal, as well as questions of why interim secretary Azaad Khan was blanked for the position a few months ago.
Latapy’s appointment gives him the responsibility to run the affairs of the football association office on a daily basis.
He could not be reached for comments yesterday but his appointment means he will receive a monthly salary of between $25, 000- $30, 000, a month, a vehicle and other perks.
Khan, who has been interim general secretary since the inception of the David John-Williams-led administration assumed office in November last year, was not among the applicants for the general secretary post. The Trinidad Guardian understands he withdrew his application for another position with in the organisation.
Tobago Football Association president Anthony Moore, who had said publicly that he was interested in the top job initially, later declined, citing increasing workload.
Contacted yesterday Joanne Salazar, Third Vice President of the TTFA revealed the position of general secretary was chosen but did not say who it was, saying the association president David John-Williams was due to make an announcement on it soon. She said final interviews were to be conducted today for the position of Manager of Finance which puts them in a position to select the best person for the job.
According to Salazar the association was now down to a shortlist of six persons to be interviewed from a whopping total of 77 which was later reduced to 30.
She explained the association is also seeking to fill the positions of Manager Communications and Public Relations as well as Marketing and Commercial.