Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer

John Barnes: He (Whitmore) is going to have to be my best friend. - File

JOHN BARNES plans to rely heavily on interim coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore when his stint as Jamaica's senior national football coach officially begins on November 1, regardless of the outcome of the country's remaining World Cup qualifying campaign.

Barnes said there will be no major overhaul of the current staff when he takes over, with the possible exception of adding one more coach, and no significantly diminished role for Whitmore. In addition, he will be trusting Whitmore's expertise and knowledge, especially of the local game.

"He will be my assistant," Barnes explained. "So, his duties will be very similar to what he's actually doing here as interim coach, in terms of him coaching the team, as well as me and him liaising with the tactics of the team and the selection of the team," he said. "I am going to need Theodore's knowledge of the characters of the players, local players particularly," he added, "because I don't know much about the local players. So, therefore, we will be working very, very closely. He's going to have to be my best friend."

Influential role

Whitmore guided Jamaica to a stunning 1-0 win over highly fancied Mexico on October 11. He was also in charge of the team for last night's match-up against Honduras. Barnes will take over in time for the final Group Two CONCACAF semi-final round game against Canada, on November 19. Yet, he vows that Whitmore will have a highly influential role for that match too.

For Barnes, barging in and changing everything around would not benefit the team, especially with Digicel Caribbean Cup matches coming up when Jamaica's European-based players are unlikely to be available. Yet he does plan to put his own stamp on the national programme.

"I'm not an idiot," said Barnes. "I'm not coming in to say, because of my ego, 'I'm in charge, we're gonna train this way, we're gonna play this way and impart my philosophy on you and blah, blah, blah'.

"(If Whitmore's style is going to provide the team with a qualifying chance) against Canada, we're gonna continue just to do that. But I would be involved more because my contract has started - I will be the coach."

Although that will mean he has final say in the running of the senior national team, Barnes conceded that tapping into the thoughts of the man known as 'Tappa', himself a former World Cup star for Jamaica, is important to his own success.

His contract runs until June 2009, he said, and nothing but match wins will ensure the extension he prefers. Asked if he will always have the final say on all senior team matters after November 1, Barnes did not hesitate.

"Definitely," he said.