National Basketball Federation of T&T (NBFT&T) new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Lee Young has not been accepted by the Sport Company of T&T. Lee Young, who was appointed to the post on May 14, signed as the federation's CEO on its budget proposal on May 28. However, an e-mail from the Sportt Company sent at the beginning of June to NBFT&T's president Brian Manning and copied to all elected officers, stated: "Within the proposal–Re: Subject: Mr Lee Young has signed as the CEO, NBFTT. Further to the e-mail I sent to you last week, please note that Mr Lee Young's position has not received the approval of Sportt; therefore, NBFTT is advised that a new cover letter signed by a currently recognised official is needed.
A source close to both the Sportt Company and the NBFTT also stated that at the May 14 Board meeting the members asked the secretary to write the Sportt Company before a contract was issued to him. To date no contract has been issued to Lee Young. Chairman of Central Zone, June Rogers, who is also a Board member protested the appointment of Lee Young contending it was illegal. In a five-page protest letter dated May 25 and addressed to Kelvin Roberts, the NBFTT general secretary, Rogers said: "Mr Lee Young is a Director of the National Professional Basketball League (NPBL) which is an affiliate to the NBFTT, making him an affiliate member and hence according to the regulations he cannot take up the post". General Secretary Kelvin Roberts who confirmed that Rogers submitted a protest letter, indicated that the matter will be tabled at the next board meeting.
Article 6.5 of the NBFTT constitution under the heading –Rights and Privileges of Members states that, "an affiliate member shall not be eligible for appointment as a delegate to a General Meeting or for election or appointment to the Board of Directors. An affiliate member has no vote at General Meetings. Thus, Lee Young is illegal and we are calling on the president to get his house in order," said Rogers. Lee Young, along with Bridget Adams, were officially declared directors of the NPBL on April 4, 2008, by the Registrar General's Office. Rogers letter also noted that Lee Young is also a member of the Millennium Basketball Academy which is also an affiliate member of the Federation.
Lee Young, who was appointed manager of the senior men's basketball team at the 2009 Caribbean Basketball Championships, was reportedly given the post after there was a four to one vote for his appointment on May 14 at a monthly statutory meeting of the NBFT&T, in which seven members were present, two of whom abstained from voting. She added that even in advertising for the post, there was a discrepancy with the circulated e-mail copy to board members and the newspaper advertisement. Rogers said: "The e-mail copy stipulated that the applicant should possess a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or equivalent qualification, while the newspaper advertisement had a requirement for a degree or a certificate in Business Administration or equivalent qualification. Up to this day Lee Young's qualification has not been tabled for discussions". "This whole thing was set up," said Rogers.