STEWART
Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
When Bradley Stewart left premier league outfit Reno two weeks ago, he did so a frustrated man after working for 10 weeks and only got paid for three.
"If you employ me and turn round and can't pay me, then it doesn't make any sense. It's the same problems they are having with the players," Stewart told The Gleaner when asked his reason for leaving the club, in an interview yesterday.
"Based on the discussions, they don't have the resources."
Stewart, who took over the coaching reins at the Westmoreland-based team on September 27, says he is a family man and therefore must provide.
family man
"I am a family person and it is difficult. When I work I expect to get pay," he said.
Stewart, who had coaching stints with Jamaica College, Maverley Hughenden, Duhaney Park, Hazard and Rivoli, says this cash problem is not unique to Reno alone.
"This is not special to one club, it's happening to most of the clubs. There is not enough funds available given the impression that there is a level of professional football. It's not possible."
According to the veteran coach, Reno turned up with only 11 players for a home game because they have salary issues.
"That is causing the team's performances to fluctuate. One of your starters is so frustrated he doesn't turn up to training. He has so many issues, he can't concentrate on the task on hand," said Stewart.
Stewart laments the state of the football locally and thinks it's a reflection of the state of the economy at the moment.
spendable cash
"There is not a lot of spendable cash around the place. People who have money have to be holding onto the cash because they don't know what tomorrow brings. The economic situation is insecure. Corporate companies are struggling and the funds that the clubs would normally get are dried up," he noted.
For Stewart though, all is not over and he is still in the market looking for coaching oppor-tunities but advises that football personalities should not depend on football alone.
"I am still looking. I have an affinity and closeness with Duhaney Park. But one of the things that we shouldn't be doing now is to be totally dependent on football. We should be looking at other avenues, business options. I am having some discussions with some people," said Stewart.
