A team to build with
Santos president ‘Spanner’ finds the commitment he wants
Published:Wednesday | April 3, 2024 | 12:08 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
FOR MANY moons, Santos Football Club was largely a one-man show, with undisputed President Carlton ‘Spanner’ Dennis commonly known as the head cook and bottle washer.
However, in recent years, the veteran coach and administrator appears to be allowing more and more personnel to get involved in assisting the club regain its former glory.
Vice-President Trevin Nairne revealed that Dennis’ apprehension to outside support resulted from him working with persons in the past who lacked the commitment and desire the club requires.
However, Nairne said in recent times they have seen committed and professional people joining the administration, and as a result, Dennis has relinquished much of his day-to-day duties to his newly assembled team.
“Mr Dennis has always wanted proper help at Santos, and not people who just talk, but people who are going to be committed and ready to stand up and be counted for the club,” he said.
“In the past you had people who have come in to help and then suddenly disappear.
“But with this drive for the 60th anniversary, we have seen people come around and working as a team, which is something we have struggled with for some time.
“But we are seeing that they are working together in harmony more and more, and that is what the club needs.”
In the past, there were also efforts by former members, who have been very critical, to hijack the club from Dennis, who has singlehandedly kept the entity afloat for more than 30 years.
Nairne insists that was ‘disrespectful’, saying those former members should have been trying to work with Dennis, instead of against him, after all his sacrifices and dedication, even after everyone else walked away.
“Efforts to get him out was a big disrespect. Because most of those people ran away and went to do their personal thing. So Mr Dennis has done a hell of a job and we are proud to work with him,” said Nairne.
“Now we are getting professional people in the mix, and these are all former [Santos] players, a lot of very accomplished people.
“We have strengthened the management side. We have a structure now. So Mr Dennis is no longer the focal point. While Mr Dennis is still the president, we are putting structures around him to strengthen the football as well as the business side of the club.
“And we are trying to get anyone who can, to come and help in whatever way they can. So we are trying to galvanise because we need all the support we can get.”
According to Nairne, there is a real buzz within the club, and the aspiration is to be in the Jamaica Premier League in the next four years.
“We believe we will become a more attractive club and have a more concrete football programme.
“Next year is the year when we think we will actually go out of the (KSAFA) championship and into the Tier II and after that, we hope to put together a strong enough team to make it into the Premier League in the next four years.”