Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sport

Vilage United's Fabian Taylor bends as he shields the ball from Arnett Gardens' Lloyd White during their Cash Plus Premier League game at Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth, on Sunday. Village won 2-1. - Richard Morais/Freelance Photographer

FOLLOWING an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon, Arnett Gardens Football Club (AGFC) executives and former head coach of its senior Cash Plus Premier League team, Max Straw, parted ways, clearing the path for the return of Jerome Waite as technical director.

"Max Straw is out and Jerome (Waite) is in," Patrick Roberts, president of the AGFC, told The Gleaner yesterday.

As a matter of fact, all but one member of the club's technical staff, Under-21 head coach Michael Francis, have been removed. This includes assistant coach Michael Tulloch and physical trainer, Michael Brady.

They have been replaced on the coaching panel by two of the club's most celebrated players, former captains Byron Earle, a many-time scoring leader and defender Eugene 'Mutt' Barnes.

Technical staff

"The only member of the technical staff who has been retained is Under-21 head coach Michael Francis. He remains because they are doing well, they're currently third in the standings," noted Roberts.

Waite coached the team to its most successful stint in recent years with back-to-back titles in the 2000-01, 2001-02 seasons. Waite, who coached most of the players through their development years at Charlie Smith Comprehensive High, also coached the team when it lost the 2002-03 final, its third championship game in-a-row, to Portmore United in extra-time at the National Stadium.

"Jerome comes in with his expertise, he will be assisted by two former players - Byron Earle and Eugene Barnes. Barnes will work more with the senior premier league team, while Earle will work with the Under-17 and Under-15 development teams."

Replacement

Straw joined Arnett at the start of this season, after working as assistant coach at Harbour View, which won the title last season. He had replaced Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, who returned to Tivoli Gardens, the now league leaders on 36 points.

Arnett on the other hand, have taken a freefall in the second round losing five matches and drawing only once in six completed fixtures and are languishing second from bottom on 15 points, two ahead of Village United.

"It's unbelievable where we're at this stage. We couldn't continue with the same technical staff, it can't be business as usual," commented Roberts. "In this round we've played six and a half games and from that we've five losses. It's a situation where we had to take a decision ...

"Hence, we've taken the decision to go back to Jerry (Waite) knowing that at this time, at the stage that the club is in, to go for a new coach is not worth it. So it's better for us to go for a coach who knows the players inside-out, so Jerome Waite is now fully in charge."