Campbell is new Jamaica president

Paul Campbell is the new president of the Jamaican Cricket Association (JCA) after edging out Courtney Walsh by three votes at the board's annual general meeting on Thursday.

Walsh, the legendary former West Indies fast bowler and one-time record holder for the most Test wickets, had the strong backing of Allen Stanford, the Antigua-based billionaire. Walsh also happens to be a Stanford 20/20 director and a Stanford selector.

Campbell said Walsh will still have a role to play in the affairs of the JCA despite the defeat. "It has been a long, stressful one [election], but thank God it's over," Campbell told the Jamaica Observer. "We can now get back to the work at hand. There's much to do.

"I must say that we need all the support. Walsh had run a really good campaign and as I have said to him, I do expect his support because he has come forward with quite a few initiatives that we will definitely take on board."

Walsh took the result in his stride and wished Campbell well. "I'm happy, I gave it everything we had [but] the delegates came out and voted for what they wanted for the long-term future of the cricket and I just wish everybody good luck.I'm happy for the support I got from my team; we're all about cricket and I'm just happy that we have one person on the slate so far."

Campbell was formerly the vice-president of the JCA and has also served as the chairman of its marketing committee since 2001.