1 week ago
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Spanish Town Police FC’s technical director, Corporal Howard Dyer, is appealing for an exemption that would allow their experienced former national assistant coach Bradley Stewart to sit on the bench during the upcoming Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season.
“We have a main coach, Bradley Stewart. Bradley is the biggest coach in Jamaica, even bigger than (Rudolph) Speid. But they say because it has been a long time since he participated in the league and because he does not have the required licences, he cannot coach from the bench,” Dyer explained.
“They are saying he has to go back and do the D licence and I think that is tough. It’s just a technical thing. This is cruel and wicked because Bradley is bigger than every coach in Jamaica. They must can give the man a special certificate or an exemption based on his qualification and experience,” Dyer said.
Stewart, a former coaching school instructor, has United Kingdom and United States coaching qualifications at various levels, and Dyer believes it is an insult to deny Stewart a place on the bench with his years of experience and qualifications.
He pointed out that Alex Thomas, Stewart’s assistant, will take charge from the bench on match days
“Alex will be the main coach when it comes to match days, because Bradley cannot sit on the bench, but Bradley coaches and prepares the team,” said Dyer.
Dyer said they have been preparing well for the new season. They targeted nine players in the transfer market, but because of the fees being asked for, they have only been able to acquire four thus far. Among the four is Humble Lion goalkeeper Glenroy Samuels.
The club has retained all their players from the Tier II competition, but Dyer said they are still in need of forwards.
“Our Tier II goalkeeper broke his finger, so we had to get in a ‘keeper’. Humble Lion have gone back to Tier II and we drafted their goalkeeper,” Glenroy Samuels. “We had to pay them what they wanted because we didn’t have a choice. We have brought in a few others. One is a forward from Irish Pen.
“The only positions we are short of are forwards,” Dyer said.
He added, however, that it was not the forwards who carried the team to the JPL.
“It was the defenders, who scored eight goals. Only three goals were scored by the forwards,” he noted.
Nevertheless, he said the aim is to kick off the season with a win against Tier II rivals and fellow promoted team Treasure Beach.
“Spanish Town Police and Treasure Beach came up from Tier II. We beat them in the league and beat them in the play-offs.
“And now we are trying our best to at least start off the season with three points. So we will try our best to win against them again, or at least hold them off for a point.”
The 2025-26 JPL season is scheduled to kick off on Sunday, August 24.
English (US) ·