CONCACAF aiming to pick up the pieces after Webb's tenure

Jeffrey Webb's reign at the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) was charcterised by bribes, backhanders and outrageous spending, and as he awaits to be sentenced after pleading guilty to various bribery involvements, the centenary Copa América tournament prepares to get underway on Friday.

The once-respected Cayman island delegate had a major hand in planning the festivities starting this weekend in Santa Clara, California, and although he has seince been outed, Webb's shadow still lurks on the organisation that has been infested with the biggest example of FIFA's corruption scandal.

Victor Montagliani's recent election as head of CONCACAF spells the beginning of a new era in which football in North and Central America hopes to emerge into the light from a wicked period of darkness.

Webb's predecessor Jack Warner, along with American associate Chuck Blazer, had left the association in poor stead following various corruption allegations and financial irregularities.

Webb incredibly began his tenure as president refusing a salary, depsite being strongly advised not to. He received a $3 million backhander when the contract was renewed.

Webb incredibly began his tenure as president refusing a salary, depsite being strongly advised not to

Various revelations about the luxurious private life of the Cayman Islands' FA boss have since surfaced, including his wife's purchase of a Ferrari, $1.5 million of pool maintenance at his 6 bedroom property in Georgia, and perhaps most bizarrely of all, a wedding gift of a gravy boat worth $400.

In an interview with The Guardian, New York attorney Samir Gandhi, who worked tirelessly on the independent 2013 report headed by CONCACAF integrity committee head David Simmons which exposed Warner, revealed the extent of the chaos.

"Right now, it's not stable and there is, still, an aura of corruption over the organisation," said Gandhi, who is now part of the team charged with reforming the body once again.

Gandhi believes that the rejection of a salary was entirely suggestive of Webb's dealings.

"I told Jeff to take a modest salary because, at the start, he wasn't taking anything. I advised him to take one because people would think he was a crook."

Since Gandhi's firm Sidley Austin became involved in the investigation into FIFA corruption, discoveries of financial overspending and self-serving decision making were the norm. In 2010 the report believed that total assets were valued at more than $45m, but by 2015 the account was almost dry.

Last year's summer congress in the Bahamas went ahead at a cost of $3m, whereas an U-15s tournament was cancelled as a result of a lack of funds.

Fifa spends $30m on their congresses, but it's just not necessary

"That was an absurd amount for a standalone Congress," Gandhi said. "Fifa spends $30m on their congresses, but it's just not necessary. When we had a conference in Miami on February 12th, we may have gone slightly overboard: we booked an airport Hilton, made people double-up, and spent around $150,000 to $200,000 on a full-day meeting for 41 member associations."