Wint: JFF will move quickly to appoint head coach

General secretary of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), Dalton Wint, says the local football governing body will be moving very swiftly to install the next head coach of the Reggae Boyz team.

The contract of interim head coach, Paul Hall, ended following the Jamaica’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Honduras in their final match of the Concacaf World Cup 2022 qualifiers on Wednesday.

The Reggae Boyz, who were securing their second win of the campaign from 14 matches, ended the tournament in a disappointing sixth place on 11 points.

Wint told The Gleaner that the JFF hierarchy will be meeting next week to discuss the coaching situation because the Reggae Boyz have a number of important upcoming assignments, including the Nations League tournament, which kick off in June.

“The World Cup qualifying campaign has just been completed and we at the JFF need to sit down and discuss all aspects of the campaign and then we can make a decision on that,” said Wint.

“We are looking to move quickly because we recognise what is ahead but we will do what we have to do in terms of the post-mortem. We will look at the whole programme and then make a decision,” he said.

Hall, who was appointed last December following the sacking of Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, recorded one win, five defeats, and a draw during his stint as the interim coach.

Wint pointed out that despite Hall’s record, the former Reggae Boyz player, who was member of Jamaica’s team that qualified for the 1998 World Cup in France, has made a good impression on the national team and he will be considered for the job.

“Paul Hall is a good person and he has equipped himself well and so all of these things will be taken into consideration. The technical committee will be the ones who will lead that discussion as it relates to the coaching,” Wint said.

He added that during the last three games in the qualifiers a number of young players were called up as they had started looking ahead at the Nations League and other upcoming tournaments.

Hall’s coaching has been praised by England-based Reggae Boy Leon Bailey. Bailey, who plays for English Premier League team Aston Villa, said Hall had done a good job over the past four months.

“He has been doing a great job, and we are pleased with what he has been giving,” Bailey said after Wednesday’s night win over Honduras.

“I think overall, the coaching staff has been doing a great job. I can’t complain because they are pushing the players, and they are also letting the players feel comfortable and confident,” he added.

Hall has made no secret of the fact that he wants to remain in the job.

“Of course, like I have said, this is a job that I want to protect, and every person who coaches would love to coach their country,” said Hall.

“Yes, I would love to be part of it. The contract is finished, and it is up to the people above to make that happen,” he said on Wednesday.