TUCKER, St James — Brazilian coach Leonardo Neiva’s short stint at Montego Bay United is over as he is scheduled to leave the island today after the club failed to get his immigration status sorted out before the deadline given by the government authorities.

Club president Orville Powell confirmed that on Thursday that the 37-year-old Neiva, who joined the club in mid-November following the departure of American Timothy Hankinson at the end of the first round, would be leaving.

“We are behind in the processing of the work permit,” Powell told the

Jamaica Observer. “We don’t think we would be able to meet the deadlines we were given and because we don’t want to be in breach of the laws we thought it would be best if he left the island.”

Powell did say also that it was unlikely they would be continuing with the paper works for Neiva who, he said, was initially here for the club to get a first-hand view of his tactics and game day management.

The Montego Bay United boss admitted Neiva, who had coaching stints in two African countries as recent as last season, had to work under “difficult circumstances”.

“He never got the chance to really express himself as a coach, because as soon as he arrived the immigration authorities turned up and the situation for him was always a tense one and it was not fair to him,” said Powell.

Moving forward, Powell said Dillon Thelwell, who he insists was the coach, would continue in the position in the short term and would be in charge when they host Rivoli United at WesPow Park on Sunday afternoon.

“We had been in negotiations with a coach to take over in late May, but we may just have to expedite these talks and bring him in sooner.” Powell said.

The club’s boss expressed his frustrations with the constant changing of coaches. “We can’t make any more changes for this season, whoever comes in must be the one to end the season in charge,” he said.

Montego Bay United lost to Arnett Gardens on Sunday then drew 0-0 with struggling Waterhouse on Wednesday leaving them second on the tables on 38 points and just ahead of the defending champions, who had a game in hand.

Neiva was the seventh coach to take over the reins at MBU and follows his compatriot Nedier dos Santos who arrived in the first season after he had coached at Village United.

Spaniard Carlos Garcia, who was in charge most of last season before leaving Easter weekend and Hankinson are the other non-Jamaicans to lead the team that has been to the last two Premier League finals as well as the Flow Champions Cup KO finals.

Jamaicans Dean Weatherly and Hugh Solomon, who both had several stints in charge, and Donovan Duckie, who started the 2013-14 season, have also played their part.