TUCKER, St James — Carlos Garcia, the former coach of Montego Bay United has fired back at accusations that the team was unfit, and hinted that he was fired because he resisted interference from the management of the club.

Garcia left the island on Tuesday, nine months after he took over the after he took over the defending Red Stripe Premier League champions, expressing surprise that he was not allowed to finish the job he started.

Posting on his Facebook page on Tuesday before his departure, the Spaniard said he was sad he was leaving the island he called home for the last nine months. “I’m surprised with this decision, after just one loss in the last nine games and only two months before the end of the season.

I really wanted to continue leading the team to the goals we established and in my opinion we are in the right path to achieve them,” he argued.

The post to which he directed the Jamaica Observer West when contacted, said also, “I understand there is a discrepancy with me in making technical decisions without involving the management and keeping faithful to the football philosophy that I think works better.”

Garcia said however, that despite being surprised by the decision, he bore no ill will towards club president Orville Powell, who he had several conversations with since he was fired last week, adding that he wishes the club success.

Garcia was relieved of his duties on Easter Monday, a day after the club lost 2-1 to Cavalier at home, a game that, if they had at least drawn, would have confirmed their place in the semi-finals.

Powell later told the Observer West that he was dissatisfied with Garcia’s handling of the club and that the players were not at the level of fitness required to compete at the Red Stripe Premier League level.

But in his Facebook post, Garcia in defending his stewardship of the team, compared the results under his watch with those of the previous season.

Among the improvements he listed, were the team scoring 10 goals in the last 15 minutes of games this season, compared to three the previous season; getting to the Flow Champions Cup KO finals after being knocked out in the quarterfinals in the 2013-14 season; the team scoring 40 goals, compared to 32 the previous year; beating every team in the competition, while MBU were unable to beat Boys Town and Humble Lion the season before he arrived; and having six players being invited to national teams, compared to two last season.

However he said, “The club [decided] they have to change direction in order to go forward, and they have my respect and support.”

“Despite my departure, I will stay loyal to the club and I hope MBU achieves every goal that was set at the start of the season. From now on, you will have one more fan that will support the team from Spain,” he also wrote.