'Give us room to operate'

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

Interference in on-field affairs by off-field administrators is an issue that has plagued local football at every level for a long time. The issue was recently brought back to the fore following the dismissal of Tivoli Gardens' Digicel Premier League coach, Lenworth Hyde, and several of his colleagues have weighed in on the matter.

Hyde was dismissed by the club ahead of a 2-1 loss to already-crowned champions Harbour View over the weekend. Reports coming out of the club indicate that the coach, who led the west Kingston club to the title only last season, was axed after a disagreement with club president Edward Seaga regarding the starting line-up for the season's final game and other team-related issues.

Geoffrey Maxwell, coach of a Waterhouse, who eventually finished third this season, despite a poor start, believes the handling of the situation showed a lack of respect for a difficult position.

"People can't seem to understand or respect a coach's job. It's not easy and when decisions are made by a coach it must be respected. Management turns up mostly on the day of the match. It amazes me and it's one of the biggest problems with football in Jamaica."

Under pressure

Maxwell had also found himself under pressure following Water-house's five-game winless streak to start the season.

Arnett Gardens coach Wayne Fairclough was also disappointed with the situation but admitted that it was a delicate balance between the two aspects of club management.

"It's nothing new and you are not going to get away from it. You have to remember that there are stakeholders that have put a lot of money into the club," Fairclough said.

"There will always be questions regarding the inclusion or exclusion of players, but as a coach you should be able to provide a sound technical answer. If that is not accepted then you either decide to stay or you go.

"At the end of the day it is the coaches who are responsible when the team loses, and no one will be there to say I told you this or I told you that," Fairclough added.

Interestingly enough, Hyde faced a similar situation after leading Harbour View to the title in the 2006-2007 season, and called it quits a year after finishing runners-up to Portmore United, citing interference from the management staff as a primary reason for doing so.

Albeit in a slightly different situation, functioning as both a coach and part of the Boys' Town management team, Andrew Price believes that while the line can be a difficult one to toe, coaches must be given the room to operate and that should be made clear from the outset.

Options available

"The coach must lay down his coaching style to the management team and he should then be allowed to do his job, that is why he was hired in the first place. At the end of it, if the management does not agree then they have the option to terminate his contract," Price said.

"Individuals spend a lot of money where the club is concerned but, personally, I believe in no interference. At the end of the day it is you who are charged with getting the results."

Paul 'Tegat' Davis, a former player and coach of late-blooming Village United, admits to also having to face up to the issue in the past, but believes some management teams are influenced by overseas leagues, where things are different.

"Sometimes I think it is a case of following coaches in overseas markets where things are different. I have had cases where players are brought in (by management) and not played (by the coach) and it becomes a problem ...," Davis said.

"We are on the ground every day we know the players inside out and where they are best suited. In Lenny's case, he has had a lot of success so it is clear he knows what he is doing."