‘Whisper’ tug-o’-war begins

Phoenix Sports Management CEO Craig Butler insists that Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards remains under contract with the organisation and says the company facilitated the player’s season-long loan move to League One club AFC Wimbledon.

Richards recently sent a signed letter to the Jamaica Football Federation and the English Football Association (FA), notifying them of a change in his official representation.

The letter stated that, “effective immediately”, Craig Butler and Phoenix Sports Management and Football Academy would no longer represent him in any capacity, and that his once-estranged father, Odile Richards, and Riches and Royalty Sports Management would now be responsible for managing his career.

“I hereby formally notify the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) of a change in my official representation and contact details.

“Effective immediately, Mr Craig Butler and Phoenix Sports Management and Football Academy no longer represent me in any capacity.”

The letter also requested that the JFF and all affiliated bodies cease all official correspondence, communications and notifications regarding his player status, national team eligibility or related matters to Butler, Phoenix Sports Management and Football Academy, or any associated entity or party.

“I kindly request that this change be reflected in all JFF records, including those shared with FIFA, CONCACAF, and other relevant football governing bodies, and please confirm in writing once this update has been processed.”

In closing, the letter said all future official communications should be directed exclusively to his newly appointed representative, his father, Odile Richards of Riches and Royalty Sports Management.

However, Butler pointed out that Richards remains under contract with the Phoenix group and said that agreement is being upheld by the English FA.

“’Whisper’ is officially contracted to Phoenix Sports Management, and Phoenix Sports Management directors are who put him in the club he is at right now. We found the opportunity for him.

“I am not aware of any letter. I haven’t gotten or received any letter like that. But any letter sent like that would not be legally correct because there is a contract that cannot be broken, and the (English) FA have made it clear to him that it cannot be broken,” he declared.

On Monday, it was announced that Richards, who faced significant uncertainty during the off-season, would join AFC Wimbledon on a season-long loan. Butler said that after sustaining two serious injuries in the past two years, the player would have to work hard to get his career back on track.

SUPPORT

“He is young and I am always going to support. He is in a club where he needs to go and work and perform, and we will see what happens from there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Odile Richards explained that his son had written to both the English FA and Phoenix Sports Management to register the change in representation, but said no one from Phoenix Sports Management had responded to their emails.

He said the intention was to effect the change by August 21, but because Phoenix had ignored their communications, they had no choice but to leave matters as they are until January, when Richards’ two-year arrangement with Phoenix is scheduled to end.

“They (Phoenix) didn’t respond. So they asked him (Dujuan) to take legal action because we wanted the change to happen in this transfer window, but he couldn’t change representation in time for the transfer to happen or he would have had to sit down until January.

“So he didn’t ask for it to be officially changed at this window. So you will still see Phoenix Sports Management (as representative), but they have not been conversing or have been doing anything for the last three months,” he stated.

The elder Richards also argued that, despite Butler taking credit for the move to Wimbledon, the transaction was overseen entirely by Chelsea.

“This (transfer) was done by Chelsea’s hierarchy. Then Chelsea would contact the agent that is on its paper. It doesn’t matter who is on his paper, they would contact them.

“So if it is Phoenix Management on his paper, they will contact them, but everything is just Chelsea,” he claimed.

Nevertheless, he is confident that by January everything will be in place for Richards to change his management team.

“All of the paperwork has gone in. All of this was done before, and he (Butler) was supposed to act before August 21st or reply, and he didn’t reply.

“So before August 21st, Dujuan sent out all of the documents to the FAs, that he (Butler) no longer represented him, but he is just not answering any emails for Dujuan or anything.

“There is a contract arrangement, but it says, by law, a player can sign with you only for two years and opt out of the contract at any given time within that two years, by FIFA law.

“We are getting legal representation from a lawyer. The lawyer wrote to him (Butler) to forward the contract that Dujuan has with him, because the player doesn’t have a copy of the contract for himself.

“So we had to use a lawyer to get all information regarding Dujuan Richards, but we have received nothing at all.”

He added that since reassuming management of his son’s career, the focus has been on getting the young footballer’s career back on track, and he believes positive progress is being made.

“It Is a day-by-day for me and him because he has to prove that he wants this, and he wants to change and wants the best for himself.

“He has asked for the extra trainer, and we have given that to him. He has asked for a personal chef, and we gave that to him.

“His diet and supplement have changed. The training has changed, and everything is on the up now. He is on a different projection and he is going to be successful, no matter what,” he added.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com