Myrie confident KC’s success will continue after Bernard’s departure
Published:Saturday | April 16, 2022 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Kingston College (KC) principal, Dave Myrie, says they are “disappointed” at losing Ludlow Bernard as their Manning Cup coach but he is confident the school has the structure to continue the recent success achieved under the astute tactician.
Bernard, who reclaimed the coveted Manning Cup title for the North Street school after 32 years in 2018, handed in his resignation earlier this week, Myrie disclosed.
He spent six years at the school winning two Manning Cups, two Champions Cups, an Olivier Shield and a Walker Cup title, making KC a powerhouse in schoolboy football once again.
The school has not yet identified a replacement but Myrie believes their success will continue, no matter who fills the vacancy.
“Ludlow has resigned as coach of the Manning Cup team. He sent me a letter this week that he will be moving on for a number of personal reasons.
“He had indicated that from last season but decided to see out this season but now he has decided to move on and it is his right so to do,” Myrie told The Gleaner.
“We thank him for the work that he has done. He has had significant success with the team and we are pretty pleased for the time that Ludlow was with us.
“As much as we are disappointed at losing him, we are in full support of whatever decision he makes. He has done pretty well and we give him our goodwill and blessings.”
Myrie added that they cannot sulk in their loss and they are already looking forward, and he thinks it will be easy for his replacement to pick up where Bernard left off.
“If the structure is there someone can fit into that structure very easily.
“Coach Bernard has his particular skills that he brought to the programme but he has left a legacy and a structure that we can continue with.
“So although disappointed, the structure has done well for us and we will continue moving forward,” he commented.
Myrie said they haven’t started looking at candidates for the job but that Bernard’s assistant and Colts and Pepsi team coach, Raymond Watson, will be considered for the post.
However, there will be a thorough vetting process, at the end of which he believes they will find a suitable successor to continue in the role.
“When coach ‘Luddy’ was hired we had a proper set of applicants with formal interviews conducted by our interview panel.
“We will go through that process and look at all the persons, including coach Stampy (Watson) who has done well.
“We believe we will continue with the right person in the slot. I am not going to make any declarations but we will go through the process and then we make a determination.
“We just hope we can continue with our football programme and continue to win more trophies,” he stated.