'Bibi' says bye - Gardner resigns as Harbour View head coach

Ricardo 'Bibi' Gardner has resigned as head coach of Harbour View Football Club, administrator Ludlow Bernard confirmed yesterday. Gardner, a former national senior men's football team captain, has been in charge of the club since last season, but the poor run of results in this season's Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) led to Gardner calling it quits on his first senior coaching stint. Bernard said it was a disappointment for him as the club was confident Gardner could turn the situation around.

"The most I can tell you is that he tendered a resignation," Bernard said. "Of course, it is a surprise, as we never expected it, based on how our club [is] run. Of course, we were willing to stick with him and see if he could turn it around. So I am extremely disappointed. I didn't expect anything like this. I was hoping he would have continued his growth and development in the game, but he chose otherwise," Bernard told The Gleaner.

Bernard said the ex-Bolton star will still remain a part of the club. But for the immediate future, Fabian Taylor will take charge of the team.

"Fabian Taylor is responsible for the game on Wednesday. But we, as a body, will have to sit and talk. We cannot answer (whether Taylor is being considered permanently) as yet.

These things happen, and we have to collectively discuss them, and deal with them, and that has not happened as yet, because all of this happened during the course of today," he explained.

Supportive role

Bernard, who led Kingston College to their first Manning Cup in 32 years, also declared that he will provide as much support as he can for the team, but he will not be involved in preparing the team for matches.

"I still maintain my role within Harbour View Football Club. I provide support for whosoever is in charge. Right now, I have a bit more time on my hands, so I can provide even more support, but I will not be on the ground. But we have to turn it around," he said.

In 15 matches under Gardner this season, Harbour View have registered just two wins, while losing six and drawing seven. They currently sit at 11th in the 12 team standings with 13 points, tied with 10th-placed Reno and four points adrift of bottom-of-the-table Dunbeholden, on nine points. They have scored 13 goals and conceded 25.

Last season the team finished sixth in the table, but lost 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals to Waterhouse. Based on last season's exploits, expectations were high this season, but did not materialise. "Sometimes in life, things happen, and we have to move on," Bernard added.