‘Attractive’ Reggae Boyz job highlighted by McClaren appointment – Thompson

FORMER REGGAE Boyz goalkeeper Ryan Thompson believes the appointment of former England manager, Stephen McClaren, as head coach of the senior men’s team ‘speaks volumes’ of Jamaica’s football programme.

Thompson said following the appointment, McClaren needs to be great support from the country’s football loving fan base to ensure a successful tenure.

“I think a coach of his calibre coming into the national team speaks volumes. It tells you that the job itself is very attractive to those on the outside. The biggest thing now is the support that he’ll receive from the federation and the public. It’s less about what he’ll bring as a coach and more about the support that is around him,” said Thompson.

McClaren was appointed on a two-year contract with the expectation of seeing the Reggae Boyz safely through the qualification phase of the ongoing World Cup qualifiers. According to Thompson, the two-year deal is a good enough deal to judge McClaren’s coaching tenure of the team.

“Obviously, there’s the World Cup ahead, two years from now, and this will be a good measuring stick. If he gets all the support, I genuinely believe that, with the talented group of players that we have, there should be success. That success could then turn into an extension of his contract. It’s short but that’s just the reality of it,” Thompson added.

Veteran football administrator Clyde Jureidini believes the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) was locked into a situation where time was against it.

“I think the JFF was in a position where they had no choice. Heimir Hallgrimsson is gone and they had to make a quick decision and one that gets them out of the current situation, and the two-year tenure had to be done,” he explained.

Jureidini further stated that, based on Jamaica’s largely English-based contingent, McClaren fits.

“We’ve gotten ourselves stuck into investing in English-based players. By extension, more persons are now associated with English-based football. We then have to approach it from that standpoint and we have to go with the squad that we have and someone from that region. The United Kingdom was the most likely choice, hence they went next door,” said Jureidini.

orane.buchanan@gleanerjm.com