Interest from several international coaches for the position of Jamaica’s head coach has caught Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell totally by surprise.

“You would be surprised to know the number of candidates from overseas who have expressed an interest. I am shocked. I did not realise that so many experienced coaches were in fact zeroing on Jamaica. That’s very encouraging,” revealed Burrell yesterday.

“British, Germans, Belgians, Americans, Trinidadians and so many nationalities. It’s incredible, and of course Jamaicans,” he added with a chuckle.

The Reggae Boyz have been without a head coach since Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore was sacked on June 12 following Jamaica’s 0-2 World Cup qualification defeat to Honduras.

Jamaica currently lie at the bottom of the six-team group with two points from six games, and will play Panama on September 6, and Burrell stated that the new coach will be in place before then.

“I think we are on the right track, there is no need to rush ourselves unnecessarily. What I can tell you and this is very important, the coach and staff that will be selected for the continuation of our World Cup programme, will be done ahead of time,” Burrell noted.

Although he couldn’t give a specific time for the naming of the coach, Burrell reiterated that it would be soon.

“We will have a coach in place as soon as possible. What I can tell you is that a coach will be in place in time to select the team for the first game. We are working around the clock to make sure that whoever is selected is the best at this time,” said Burrell.

The JFF boss refused to give names of the interested people, but have not ruled out the possibility of the job going to a local coach.

“At this time I am not able to say, but we are looking at everyone who has expressed an interest, believe we are, and at the end of the day the best candidate will be selected to be the national coach of Jamaica,” said Burrell.

Regarding the question of affordability, Burrell made it known that his federation is looking for the best person and funds would have to be found to facilitate that person.

“I am looking for the best coach that we can have available to lead our football. I am hoping we will be able to afford the best man,” he pointed out.

“At this time we are not ruling out anyone. At this time there is no room for errors and that’s why we are taking our time, looking carefully at everything, all aspects in order to get the best person,” said the no-nonsense Burrell.