Reynolds disappointed by MBU firing

Vassell Reynolds is the first casualty of the 2018-2019 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) season.

Reynolds, who last year guided Rusea's to daCosta Cup triumph and who assumed the role of head coach of Montego Bay United prior to the start of the season, was on Friday relieved of his position.

New chairman of Montego United, Dr Germaine Spencer, confirmed that there was a parting of ways with Reynolds.

"We agreed to the mutual dissolution of the contract and this was due to a number of factors," Spencer told The Gleaner via phone yesterday when quizzed about Reynolds being removed as head coach of the club.

Stating that he did not wish to outline all the reasons, Spencer said the main reason were the poor results.

"The culture of MBU is a winning one, a results-oriented one," said Spencer of the club, which last won the RSPL title in 2015 and ended last season in ninth position.

To get them back on a winning track, Spencer said Dillon Thelwell, a man who has had previous stints with the club, was appointed as interim coach.

DISAPPOINTED

Reynolds was naturally disappointed, especially after putting in battling performances with a youthful and weakened team.

"I was a bit surprised and disappointed that I was not allowed to continue the rebuilding and transition of the club, and the reason given - poor results," Reynolds said.

"We were six points away from the top six and seven points away from some teams which had far more resources and [a] deeper squad than us. Based on all the variables, it was a fair performance thus far, but where we had set our targets, we fell five points short," added Reynolds, who recently stepped away from the job as national Under-20 head coach.

What was particularly difficult for Reynolds to digest about the decision is that he felt that things were beginning to look up and that with the transfer window to open in January, there were quality acquisitions being eyed.

In taking up the job Reynolds said he knew that there would be challenges, especially with the departure of the experienced Ladale Ritchie and Ronaldo Rodney to Mount Pleasant, Jacomeno Barrett and the long-term injury to Donovan Carey. Things did not get any better with talismanic forward Dino Williams reinjuring himself after just 15 minutes of action.