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New Girlz coach to be known Tuesday

Published:Saturday | December 14, 2019 | 12:22 AM

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz will know who their new head coach is in just a matter of days, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts says.

The JFF boss refused to go into details about the pending appointment, but said that the technical committee will make a decision by Tuesday after discussions with other stakeholders.

Ricketts added that the appointment will be made despite the JFF not receiving an official letter of resignation from former coach Hue Menzies.

“We haven’t gotten anything official [from Menzies],” he said. “But he has gone public [with his resignation], so we just have to take it that he will not be a part of the programme.”

Menzies was appointed head coach of the Reggae Girlz in 2015, but had a strained relationship with the JFF leadership for insisting on greater support from the administration, and backing players during disputes with the federation, especially on remuneration.

After returning from this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, Menzies refused to continue coaching the team until all outstanding monies owed to him were paid up. As a result, he missed the first-round Olympic qualifiers in Jamaica between September and October.

After the Olympic qualifiers, Menzies complained about being ignored by the JFF, not being communicated with, and the uncertainty surrounding his position with the team increased daily.

Lorne Donaldson, former assistant to Menzies, oversaw the team in the first round Olympic qualifiers and is the leading candidate to take the vacant role.

The Concacaf Olympic qualifying final round takes place from January 28 to February 9 in the United States.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com