Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
PORTMORE UNITED may not be the only ones counting their losses
following the departure of Lenworth 'Teacher' Hyde to Harbour View last week.
Tivoli Gardens, the club that it was rumoured Hyde was going to take control
of, will have to go shopping for a coach soon and the prize bull Hyde is not
on the market.
A midfield general in his playing days, Hyde has won the National Premier League on one occasion, doing so with Hazard (now Portmore) in 2003. He was, however, relegated to working with Portmore's Under-21 when his club won their third championship in 2005.
Last week, Harbour View, the proverbial bridesmaid of local premiership, demoted Donovan 'DV' Hayles to the position of technical director of the club's junior programme and announced 'Teacher' as their new coach.
MELTDOWN
Hayles as Harbour View coach presided over a 13-point lead meltdown that led to the 'Stars of the East' failing to win what seemed a sure Premier League title in the just-concluded season.
"I am sure he will do well at Harbour View. He has done extremely well as a coach for us and we wish him all the best at Harbour View," Portmore's technical director Horace Reid told The Gleaner yesterday.
Reid said Hyde, who was a part of the Portmore set-up until last week, will be missed but "keeping eyes open for opportunities is something we have always encouraged our members to do".
He added: "Opportunities will come along and people must be in positions to take them. When the Tivoli opportunity came up, I encouraged him to take the job there," Reid said.
Hyde was offered the job of head coach at Tivoli during the last season after Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey tendered a resignation letter to club president Edward Seaga.
Seaga was not available for comment yesterday but according to Brian Rose, Tivoli Gardens' manager, that offer was soon terminated.
"No discussions were taking place as it relates to Hyde taking over as coach of Tivoli Gardens. 'Admiral' had tendered his resignation to the president and this led to the speculation that Hyde would take over.
IMMEDIATE EFFECT
"The president (Seaga), on receiving Admiral's resignation letter, thought it was with immediate effect and so he called Hyde and asked if he was available. He said that he was available then but afterwards it was realised that his (Bailey) resignation would be effective at the end of the season. Apart from those talks, Tivoli and Hyde were in no discussions surrounding hiring him as coach," Rose said.
Hyde, who is off the island, was not available for comment yesterday.
Meanwhile, Rose added that "the way things are now, we are without a coach as Admiral's resignation is now effective but the season has ended so there is no need for a coach. I can't say who will be the new coach if there is one. Only the president can make that call. Maybe Admiral has a turn of heart and opts to stay or maybe we will have to go searching," said Rose, who added that Hyde would have been a good option had he not moved to Harbour View.
