Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
AMIDST STRONG rumours that the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is seeking a foreign replacement for technical director Carl Brown, president Captain Horace Burrell told The Sunday Gleaner in a recent interview that this is not so.
For close to a month it has been reported that Burrell has been speaking to a trio of men including former technical director Rene Simoes, former Mexican coach Manuel Lapuente and Bora Milutinovic who has guided at least five teams at the World Cup finals.
"I will say at this time that I have not been talking to any one of those people with a view to replacing Carl because to date he has gotten fairly good results and is getting his job done," Burrell told The Sunday Gleaner prior to Wednesday's 0-0 draw against South Africa in that country.
Pressed further about the men Burrell said: "There is no need to do that at this time. We hope that he will continue and move from strength to strength. It is not true that we have been looking a replacement," he said, giving his first definite answer.
SIMOES
On Simoes, the man who guided Jamaica to their historic World Cup qualification in France 1998, Burrell admitted that he had spoken to Simoes but not about him returning as an employee of the Federation.
"I have always spoken to Simoes," Burrell said. "We have always been in touch since he left. He is like a friend, we speak on a regular basis, the same way I speak with Clovis, and (Walter) Gama. Those people worked here and we still have a good relationship."
Milutinonic, Burrell said, is a man he has always had friendly exchanges with since the time he coached Mexico and the last time he had a conversation with him was at last year's World Cup.
Brown, officially appointed technical director at the start of the year after acting in the job since the dismissal of Clovis de Oliveira, has had a hard time convincing local supporters that he is up to the job. This and talks from people who claim to be in the know have led people to believe that Brown could be on his way out.
As far as Burrell is concerned though, his position has not changed.
100 PERCENT
"As I have always said Carl Brown, who was recently appointed technical director, will get 100 per cent support from the JFF in assisting him to do the best he can and hence at this time we are concentrating our efforts on giving Carl all the assistance that he needs.
"I think I have been consistent with the position of the Federation in that the job of Technical director not only in Jamaica, but any country in the world, depends on performance. I made it quite clear at time of Mr. Brown's appointment that keeping the job would be based on performance and have been consistent and will continue to emphasise that point," he continued.
Questioned about the belief that Brown was only given the job because there was not enough money to hire a foreigner, Burrell said:
"It is not true to say that it was because it was a lack of funds why we went for him. He spent a lot of time under overseas coaches and we felt he was ready."
And as if to sound a warning to Brown, Burrell concluded by saying:
"One thing that we have to understand is that the Federation will not have to say he is not performing. We have a very vocal population and they will decide," continued Burrell, before adding, "What I will ask though is that we give him all support."
