Donaldson still in limbo over Reggae Girlz future
Published:Sunday | September 24, 2023 | 12:12 AMJob Nelson - Sports Coordinator
Lorne Donaldson continues to hinge his decision to extend his stint as Reggae Girlz head coach on discussions with the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) hierarchy, which he admits are still to begin.
Speaking at the National Stadium after Jamaica’s Olympic Games qualifier against Canada on Friday, Donaldson would not be drawn into whether he wanted to remain in the position, but instead turned the attention to the JFF.
“Nobody has mentioned anything to me about a contract. They haven’t talked to me about the future.
“When we discuss it, we will see what’s going on. We have to have a discussion before there is interest. I won’t say I want to stay or I want to leave. We have to have a discussion about it,” he said.
Donaldson’s current contract will expire after Jamaica play Canada in the second leg of the Olympic Games qualifier on Tuesday at the BMO Field in Toronto. He took control of the Reggae Girlz in June last year after the resignation of Vin Blaine, who ended his stint as coach because of a spat with the players.
Donaldson, in his time in charge, led the Girlz to the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand just this summer. They drew 0-0 with both France and Brazil while defeating Panama 1-0 to advance to the round of 16, where they lost 1-0 to Colombia.
He, however, said he had not been contacted by anyone from the JFF. The normal protocol would be for his tenure to have been analysed by the technical committee, headed by Rudolph Speid. He insists that neither Speid nor JFF’s top brass have reached out to him.
“Nobody has spoken to me regarding contract. Never been mentioned, never been spoken of. Never. Before the World Cup, after the World Cup and the present time,” he said.
Donaldson and his charges will have work to do on Tuesday, as the Reggae Girlz lost the first leg of the Olympic Games qualifier 2-0 to Canada. Reports indicate that tickets to the match have already been sold out, suggesting the Reggae Girlz could be in for a hostile environment.