Hyde wanted to invoke own punishment - Seaga

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Former Tivoli Gardens football head coach, Lenworth Hyde Sr, was relieved of his duties via telephone on the eve of the defending champions' ultimate match of the season against champions Harbour View after club chairman, Edward Seaga, expressed displeasure with his team selection.

Tivoli had come into the fourth and final round of the season trailing Harbour View by a point, but lost four of their five games to hand the title to the 'Stars of the East' by an 11-point margin.

Hyde had brought success to the club last season, leading them to the Premier League and Jackie Bell double, but Seaga views the fourth-round drop in form as the major difference between the two seasons.

"The big difference compared to last year, is that we didn't have a crash; you don't win nine matches in a row and then you crash with three and have a fourth one coming up," said Seaga. "We kept saying to him, put the best team on the field, if there is discipline to be invoked I will invoke that discipline by fining them and when I do that, I get good results.

"He wants to do the punishment, withdraw the service (of the players) and hold grudge against the players, which punishes the team," Seaga added.

Hyde, however, is very disappointed with the club's decision and more so with the manner in which it was done.

"I am very disappointed, especially with the manner in which it was done. But such is the case when you are working for somebody and they choose to do that," said Hyde.

"After we lost the St Georges game, players stopped coming to training because they saw that we couldn't win the league again so the enthusiasm wasn't there. Players gave up, so I started using the players who turned up at training.

"I heard they kept a meeting with the players and two players out of 25 got up and spoke about the intensity of the training, (saying) they were training too hard. We did the same thing last season and we won the title," he added.

Hyde has his own theory as to what resulted in Tivoli not retaining the title.

"I think we had an excellent season, we fell short on a striker; we needed an additional striker to help out our cause."

He also believes that the players in the squad lack enthusiasm because a number of them are aged players who have no hope of making the national setting.

Hyde is using the season break to relax, but does intend to be coaching in the league next season.

"I am just cooling out, getting down the stress level and just enjoy the holiday right now and whatever comes next year we will look at it and deal with it," said Hyde. "Is that (coaching) I know, I never turned a doctor or lawyer, is football I deal with and I love dealing with the players, that is my joy," he concluded.