Mark Golding happy with Arnett progress
Structural shake-up, Tegat Davis appointment pan out
Published:Wednesday | March 30, 2022 | 12:14 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
ARNETT GARDENS Football club chairman, Mark Golding, is feeling vindicated by his decision to restructure the organisation and to bring in Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis as head coach.
Golding, who took over as chairman in 2018 from former South East St Andrew member of parliament, Omar Davies, went straight into restructuring the club, and in the process got rid of some of the club’s long-standing executives, support personnel and prominent players.
Golding, who was in attendance at the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) match between Arnett and Waterhouse at Sabina Park on Monday, faced harsh criticism for his decisions from both inside and outside the community as a result.
However, he said he was always convinced he was going the right route and with Arnett returning to their best on-the-field display in years, he is feeling a sense of vindication.
“I am very happy. It was a difficult time when we took over. There was a total change of philosophy in how the club should be run. I was trying to build a sustainable organisation in a community that is a low-income area, and how you build a sustainable football organisation there is very challenging.
“But we had a strategy and we are executing and seeing the results. I am feeling good about it and I hope it can continue,” he said.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
The next step for the club is to create overseas opportunities for its players, where more young players can see the club as a viable option to develop and advance their careers.
“We are always looking for new opportunities internationally and to be seen as a club where younger players can build their careers in football locally and internationally.
“That is an area we want to have more focus on going forward. But in order to do that, you need discipline in the squad and it helps if you are getting the results on the field and we seem to be doing that, so I am very optimistic,” said the People’s National Party president and leader of the Opposition.
In the past, Arnett have struggled with controlling the discipline of players. However, Golding noted that Davis has been getting the job done in those areas as well.
According to Golding, hiring Davis, the former Montego Bay United and Mount Pleasant coach, was the best thing he has done for the club.
“Tegat has brought some things that we really needed. He is a strong disciplinarian and very experienced, with himself being a former footballer.
“Our other coach Eric (Rademaker) from the Netherlands has also brought a new dimension and they are working very well together. So overall, the team is doing really nicely and we look forward to doing well this season. We have hopes (championship) and we are looking forward to it,” he said.
He added that with arguably the largest fan base in the country, Arnett will be looking to capitalise on merchandising potential.
“We can do more than we are doing. Financing is always a challenge because running a football club at this level is very difficult.
“But there are opportunities to make money out of these things and I am quite pleased with the Professional Jamaica Football Limited (PFJL). It is well structured to do that and the people behind it have commercial and football experience and I like the direction they are going.
“So now that the pandemic seems to be ending, the league is coming into its own. The flow of money that we are always anticipating to come into the clubs will now enable us to do a lot more,” said Golding.
At the end of the JPL first round, Arnett lie second in the table with 24 points, one less than leaders Dunbeholden and one more than third-place Waterhouse.