Arnett: Davis stays as coach
COACH Fabian Davis remained at the helm of the struggling Arnett Gardens Football Club after a lengthy meeting yesterday, which also saw the return of popular community personality George Phang as a team manager.
Club president Patrick Roberts told the Observer everything is back to normal following the meeting which involved chairman Dr Omar Davies.
Said Roberts: “Fabian is still the head coach. I don’t know where the news came from that Fabian was sacked. What Fabian will be concentrating on is the last three games of this round for him to play in those games.”
Davis, a former Reggae Boy, was said to have actually tendered his resignation yesterday, but the club hierarchy refused to accept it despite the outfit’s dismal form.
Observer sources revealed that Davis, who took over the coaching reins last year, was asked to sit out Monday’s training session which was conducted by general manager Richard Bennett, popularly known as ‘Charlie Chaplin’, the veteran dancehall deejay.
That move, along with reports in sections of the media on Monday night, fuelled speculations that Davis was sacked as coach.
Meanwhile, as part of the club’s aim of optimising the players’ performance, Phang — who headed the management team during the championship years of 2000 and 2001, has been called back to help resuscitate the ailing club.
“George played an important role the last time and because of the situation, we think that George can play an additional role than just being a standbyer. George will come in as the team manager to focus on the team itself,” Roberts told the Observer.
Bennett will play a more active role in assisting Davis in the coaching of the team.
Over the last two seasons, Arnett Gardens, with a huge fan base, have been toying with relegation and the pressure is mounting for a return to the glory days.
Observer sources have revealed that there is a divide in the camp, with certain players not willing to give of their best under coach Davis.
Davis, who won the Premier League title with both Arnett and Tivoli Gardens as a player, is said to be a disciplinarian, and that has not gone down too well with certain senior players.
“A lot of the players don’t want to play under Fabian, while a lot of players will not play unless Fabian is there,” said the Observer source.
Arnett Gardens, who lost 0-2 to Boys’ Town in the Trench Town derby at Collie Smith Drive on Sunday, were suffering their third consecutive defeat and their 10th overall — the highest in the league.
The former champions have mustered only five wins from 19 games and are on 19 points in ninth position.
The are hoovering just one point above the promoted Humble Lions and four points above the relegation zone in the 12-team league.
The ‘Junglists’ have garnered just six points from eight games in the second round and are effectively out of the title race, trailing by a massive 20 points.