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Jamaica's new Manager?


Martyr

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Since we've still got to play them in WC Qualifying I thought it would be ok to post this here...

Barnes in talks over Jamaica job

By Jonathan Stevenson

England great John Barnes is in talks with the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) about becoming their new head coach, BBC Sport understands.

Jamaican-born former Liverpool winger Barnes, 44, is set to meet with JFF officials in the next few days.

Jamaica sacked their Brazilian technical director Rene Simoes last week after a disastrous start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Barnes has been out of management since being sacked by Celtic in 2000.

The JFF is expected to issue a statement on Tuesday or Wednesday confirming it is in discussions with Barnes.

Jamaica are currently last in their four-team World Cup qualifying group on one point from three games, with three games remaining.

To have a chance of advancing to the final stage of the Concacaf qualifying round, they must beat Mexico, Honduras and Canada and hope other results go their way.

Story from BBC SPORT:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7619450.stm

Published: 2008/09/16 15:31:37 GMT

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quote:Originally posted by villus

Did they really think they were going to have more than a point after these 3 games? Not really a horrible start IMO, I would'nt have been suprised if they had 0 points.

Probably not, but at least this move shows that their governing body is willing to shake things up and do whatever they feel is necessary to try and salvage this qualifying campaign.

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Well... uninspiring or not, it's official now!

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080917/sports/sports1.html

John Barnes named to replace Simoes - Whitmore the interim head coach

published: Wednesday | September 17, 2008

Audley Boyd, Assistant Sport Editor

NOTHING, IT seems, really happens before its time. After having his name bandied about with technical duties relating to Jamaica's football, John Barnes will finally get his day in the sun as head coach of the Reggae Boyz, beginning November 1.

Captain Horace Burrell, president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), yesterday announced Barnes in the capacity of head coach following an extra-ordinary meeting among the JFF board to ratify a replacement for former technical director René Simoes at its New Kingston headquarters.

Burrell also named Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore as interim head coach for next month's qualifiers and said all Jamaica's top players, including Marlon King who was shunned by Simoes, will be invited for the upcoming games.

"The board of directors of the JFF has approved the appointment of Mr John Barnes, former England international, as the head coach of the national senior team, com-mencing November 1, 2008," said Burrell. "The board has approved his appointment for a period of one year, which will be up for review, and possibly renewal."

Worldwide recognition

The Jamaica-born Barnes, who attended St George's College before migrating as a teen to England with his father, army colonel Ken, who was seconded to the British regiment at the time.

Burrell noted Barnes' worldwide recognition as being key to his appointment.

"When you are involved in international football you need an individual with international stature. Having a coach of international repute opens a number of opportunities for our national team," he said.

"Many countries will invite you to play friendlies only because of the image and reputation of your coach," Burrell added. "When an icon like John Barnes becomes the coach of Jamaica's Reggae Boyz' team, immediately the international spotlight will shine on Jamaica in every single aspect of the sport."

The JFF president did not divulge any salary details.

"I'm not prepared to discuss any details of the coach's salary at this time, but it will not be any more than the amount paid to Professor Simoes," he said.

Simoes was paid US$600,000 per annum.

"Right now, my focus is not on money. My focus is not even wanting to talk about finance," stated Burrell. "My focus is to talk about Jamaica's performance."

Barnes' first task will include Jamaica's November 19 World Cup qualifier against Canada at 'The Office', then the eight-team Digicel Caribbean Cup Finals that will be hosted here in December.

The latter serves as a qualifier to next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup, which will be hosted by the United States.

Bottom of table

Brazilian Simoes, who served as technical director, was fired by Burrell at 1:00 a.m. last Thursday, hours after the team lost a crucial World Cup qualifier 2-0 against Honduras in San Pedro Sula.

The loss left Jamaica bottom of the table in the four-nation semi-final series on one point, alongside Canada but five adrift second-placed Honduras and eight off Mexico, who lead the group on maximum nine points.

Whitmore

Whitmore, former captain and two-goal World Cup hero of Jamaica's historic 1998 France appearance who served as an assistant coach under Simoes, will handle the reins for the two World Cup qualifying matches in October, as Barnes will be unavailable due to commitments he now has as a television commentator.

When Barnes joins the national programme, Whitmore will serve as his assistant

All Players invited

Jamaica play Mexico on October 11, then Honduras days later on the 15th, both at 'The Office', knowing that anything but victory means the end of their qualification hopes. Only three matches remain and two teams will qualify.

Despite the team's precarious position, Burrell says his board has mandated the coaching staff to name its strongest team and is confident the side will advance.

"The federation has made it quite clear that the strongest squad is to be selected and therefore, it can be expected that our strongest players in the US and Europe will be invited," Burrell declared. "All our players, including Marlon King."

Copyright Jamaica-Gleaner.com

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Simoes' continued exclusion of the stronger and more experienced players was strange.

I think midfield and to some extent defense suffered the most but he often outright

refused to play the better strikers (like Marlon King) or subbed them late in the matches.

Basically his squad consisted of players he knew from a decade ago or new young players.

Anyone that developed in his absence and went to play oversees was completely ignored.

Simoes' single away point aside,I believe better selections would have

mounted a stronger challenge for more points on the road.

I think Simoes made it clear that his selection strategy was not going to change so the JFF had to let him go.

Why raise the level of challenge for yourself in an already tough group by excluding players who are doing well in foreign professional leagues.

BTW, I think Canada will be the only team in the group that will be facing the John Barnes coached Reggae Boyz.

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  • 8 months later...
quote:Originally posted by squizz

Probably not, but at least this move shows that their governing body is willing to shake things up and do whatever they feel is necessary to try and salvage this qualifying campaign.

Since a Canadian brought this thread from the dead:)

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quote:Originally posted by youllneverwalkalone

^Not surprising. He's about as Jamaican as me. I saw him on Setanta basically saying he'd take the first club opportunity that came his way.

I guess you were born in Jamaica with a dad who was one of the top military persons and remained an iconic figure in Jamaica until his recent passing. I guess you are indeed Jamaican.

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