The Reggae Boyz are back under the coaching skills of Theodore Withmore, but for how long ??

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Howard Walker | Monday, June 08, 2009

A disappointed John Barnes has been replaced by Theodore Whitmore as head coach after his seven-month contract was not renewed by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), it was announced after Jamaica’s 3-2 win over Panama at the National Stadium last night.

Reggae Boy coach John Barnes (left) congratulates Keammar Daley after the latter scored Jamaica's winning goal against Panama in their friendly international at the National Stadium last night. Jamaica won 3-2. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Barnes, 45, who took over the coaching reins on November 1, 2008, will instead be moving on to English League One outfit Tranmere Rovers.

His contract with Tranmere will start in July and Barnes was visibly upset that his contract with the Jamaica Football Federation wasn’t extended to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Said Barnes: “Yes, I am disappointed that I would not be going to the Gold Cup because I could have started the contract (with Tranmere) after the
Gold Cup.”

“But I fully accept and understand the JFF decision that they will appoint Theodore, as of now, to give him a chance to experience football at the highest level.

“I have to thank the JFF for giving me an opportunity in doing something I love. It is something I wanted to get involved with for a long time and they gave me that opportunity,” Barnes added.

The JFF president, Captain Horace Burrell, made the announcement after the game last night and wished Barnes all the best.

Said Burrell: “Our contract with Coach Barnes expires at the end of June, which is in another couple of days from now. Naturally, Coach Barnes has to be looking around, and I am very pleased that Barnes has indeed landed a contract at Tranmere Rovers in England.

“As a result of this, the JFF has immediately appointed Theodore Whitmore as head coach of the Reggae Boyz team, and this will go for one year,” said Burrell.

Theodore Whitmore a.k.a "Tappa"

Whitmore was not at the press conference and Barnes wished him all the best saying he knew he would do a very good job.

The former Liverpool and England winger will start preseason training with Tranmere Rovers, the current club of Reggae Boy Ian ‘Pepe’ Goodison and a former club of Whitmore.

Barnes, who took over the coaching reins from interim coach Whitmore in November after Brazilian Rene Simoes was fired, led the team unbeaten to winning the Digicel Caribbean Cup in December.

He finished his first national coaching job with a winning record of five wins and four draws.

Source : Jamaica Observer