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Former Trinidad and Tobago 2006 World Cup 2006 defender and Everton FC coach Dennis Lawrence will make his case to lead the Soca Warriors today, as the TTFA technical committee widened its search for the third National Senior Team head coach in three months.
Lawrence worked as assistant coach at Wigan Athletic and Everton and remains a member of Spanish coach Roberto Martinez’s backroom staff at the Belgium National Senior Team.
Looking on is Brent Sancho.
(Copyright AFP 2016/Sven Nackstrand)
He joins what is believed to now be a five-man shortlist to replace Tom Saintfiet, who quit within one month of taking over from Stephen Hart. Russell Latapy, Terry Fenwick and Stuart Charles-Fevrier have already been interviewed by the technical committee while Francisco Maturana and Lawrence will have their chance today.
However, if one gauged importance on the heft of salary packages, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) might have already lost belief in the Russia 2018 World Cup campaign.
Saintfiet, whose last job was as Bangladesh National Senior Team coach, was believed to have taken over the Trinidad and Tobago without a contract and an agreement to be paid with match fees rather than a monthly salary. In contrast, Hart is understood to have earned US$22,000 a month—although he is still being owed by the TTFA.
The next Warriors coach is expected to be offered a wage somewhere between the remuneration of the two former coaches. However, Wired868 understands the local football body will spend nearly double the pay package of its new men’s coach on Women’s National Senior Team coach Carolina Morace and her staff.
Morace, a former Italy national player and ex-Canada coach, comes with an impressive CV and proven pedigree. Her contract will run until the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France.
(Copyright Zimbio)
The next men’s coach is unlikely to have anything like her salary or job security.
The TTFA’s decision to invest more in the leader of its women’s programme when the men’s team has historically been its biggest financial earner is especially curious with the latter team in the Hex, which is usually enough to guarantee tens of millions in sponsorship deals.
In 2006, the local football body collected well over TT$200 million dollars in revenue for qualifying for the Germany World Cup. But it does not appear that the TTFA, headed by president David John-Williams, is prepared to make a significant investment to get there on this occasion.
Regardless, the technical committee has apparently spread its net as far as possible in the search for the next men’s coach.
The Skeene-led committee has not contacted Hart, despite a plea for his reinstatement by the players and an online petition by local football fans. However, former World Cup 2006 captain and ex-Manchester United star Dwight Yorke was supposedly sounded out as well as former 2007 Under-17 World Cup coach Anton Corneal.
Yorke, who works as a football analyst in Britain, was said to be uninterested in the position at this time but promised to give motivational speeches to the squad or offer advice whenever possible.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Corneal, who now works as a FIFA technical development officer, is owed a seven-figure settlement from the TTFA for his recent spell as technical director. He was unwilling to consider any new football position unless his outstanding money was part of the discussion.
On Thursday, Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper and players representative Jan-Michael Williams, who claimed to represent 23 national players, sent an email to John-Williams and vice-presidents Joanne Salazar and Ewing Davis, which urged the local football executive to recall Hart.
Under Hart, Trinidad and Tobago qualified for two successive Gold Cup quarterfinals, the CONCACAF Hex for the Russia 2018 World Cup and climbed to 49th in the FIFA rankings in 2015, which was the country’s highest placing since 2012.
However, the Canada-based coach lost his job after a dip in form last year which had its nadir in successive competitive defeats to Martinique, Costa Rica and Honduras, during a three week spell between October and November.
The Martinique and Honduras losses both occurred on foreign soil.
Should the TTFA prove unwilling to reinstate Hart, the Warriors stated a preference for either Fenwick or Fevrier with former National Under-23 coach and stand-out player Angus Eve as a possible assistant coach.
Looking on is W Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Fenwick, a former England World Cup defender and Tottenham Spurs captain, won Pro League and Caribbean Cup titles at San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC while Fevrier, who is also a former T&T international coach, did likewise with W Connection.
Both are former Pro League Coach of the Year winners.
Latapy, a former Trinidad and Tobago football icon and European Champions League player with Porto, is believed to be a strong contender, despite an unimpressive earlier spell as head coach, six years ago. He has since earned his UEFA pro licence and worked as an assistant in the Scotland Premier League.
The technical committee is expected to present its own choice as head coach by the start of next week, although the board of directors will make the final decision.
Last month, the committee is believed to have given a list of four names to John-Williams. The TTFA president then whittled the list further—supposedly after phone calls to the prospective candidates—before presenting one name to the board of directors: Saintfiet.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
The obscure Belgian’s stint proved to be disastrous as he lasted just one month and quit after three losses from four games against Nicaragua, Suriname and Haiti. Trinidad and Tobago football fans will hope for better luck this time.
At the moment, Morace might be the most comfortable coach in the country, as she prepares to start the Women Warriors’ 2019 World Cup bid with the security and pay package that might turn Saintfiet’s successor green with envy.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Lord help us and those goats on the TTFA board.
Jeron Max, you this may sound funny but you have a go case there
Scout the entire country select the fastest strikers the fastest of them. Then look for the biggest defenders u could get big like marvin the dog andrews. Finally scout for the best of the best midfeild specialist. Those will make the list of local based players for the team. Then take the best of the foreign based players that committed to the cause. Then get rid of djw.
Dennis is the best choice. But must be on a longterm bases. It must not be just to come in a clear up the mess we are already in. We must have a focus on 2022.
So who’s the new coach? Weren’t interviews completed yesterday? Ruby Tuesday not open yet for the meeting to decide? Find it taking long man
It has to be decided in a board of directors meeting. So that ent here yet.
I thought DJW would have decided then told the board. Oops so they following a process then. Nice surprise.
The appearance of a process must be followed. Dais all.
Lol
Dennis would be a good choice …. but.
Lawrence not coming anywhere!! Why would he risk what he has at Belgium with a good coach for this job?? Unrealistic chance of going forward, corrupt ttfa president, history of not being paid, poor support resources and a recent history of a belgium coach quitting after a month?? Makes for good reading for is unrealistic and to be honest would be shocking to me. I’d rather go to a Mourinho meeting and be forced to be cordial to him, whilst highlighting my undaunted respect and admiration for him …whilst ..whilst ….think I’m gonna throw up ….urgghhh
The thing is why wud Dennis leave such a high profile position to come and try to fix a mess that won’t be fixed until DJW isn’t a part of the setup. Also even after his leaving we still have many changes to be made in order for us to return to anything like 2006. Having said that plz bring back Hart to finish what he has started tyvm ???
Hey i want to be honest here it is clear to see all the heads are making the mistakes and keep fighting to hold on to positions that they are not truly fulfilling it too much friend thing and pal stuff in the football lets get grassroots and develop the players from young and get this thing going cant tell me after qualifying for the world cup years later we cant even go to the gold cup this is utter nonsense. I say to start with give Terry Fenwick the job lets see if we have a chance to make it still and after that is pure development.
The dictator sabotage has met a hitch lol he have no money for the men’s team, everyone with a brain knows that’s a big fat lie, as big as Shabazz belly
The list really short an this job tells alot about where our foitball reach the selection committee and technical minds lost .
What a Shame..???. T&T football is really garbage now. Please allow the Woman to coach the male team.
Don’t beat up I telling allyuh this was designed to give latapy from the start. Where is his brother now. ….rumours inside ttfa swirling nice October last year about Williams wanting latas to be coach but that’s what I hear….I dunno. … my ciurt clothes not pressed.
So why all the suspense just to unveil the next Coach of the Soca Worries eh, it seems that they continues to pick the wrong name form the hat or what eh. Steeuuppsss. Them really good yes. hahahahaha
i say by tomorrow we go know something if Mr live wire don’t buss the files by dis evening
to think they actually have “unqualified ” football people in this country who could walk in and sit with the “REAL: technical committee and embarrass them on technical football knowledge ..and yes i is one…me.. i does play a rock n roll guitar sing…and still i will embarrass them……and with all due respect to the present committee … you did your part in the past…thanks… enough Scotch and coconut water…enough
Edgar in now ???… we will soon teach the Germans.
???
Dais Reboots
Them really good yes steeuuuppss. hahahaha
hear nah…dem lucky we is sweet tnt…anywhere else that serious about football…is real trouble dem men in yes…
He’s blaming Hart really?
After all is said and done can’t djw be removed. ?
..Jack could be blamed for whatever he did that was illegal. But these clowns are worse. They GROSSLY INCOMPETENT..
..Barnum and Bailey. Is time these people got KICKED OUT OF OFFICE..
The real Technical Director Kendal Walkes was fired by my dictator president who had already articulate a development plan long time already and furthermore Isa Muhammed cannot even use the computer I was told, hence the reason why my Prof Jamaal Shabazz was also given that Technical Director post himself to also help them out eh. Them really good yes
The Technical Director is Isa Mohommed it is his responsibility to articulate a development plan , his ability to do so would have been one of the reasons he got the job…isn’t that so .
Djw too busy collecting bribe and match fixing money to select a good coach but willing to pay the woman’s coach twice the salary lol
..The beatings will continue until morale improves..
Why don’t dey just give terry Fenwick the job and done
How can they be offerring pay packages having not paid off previous coaches? Mindblown …..
As a colleague of mine used to say … niceties in Donkey City!!!!
What’s her pay?
I don’t want to say more than that on a current coach’s pay package to be honest.
I am prepared to wager a small bet on the appointment of a female coach, the very same Caroline Morace, to be put in charge of the TT Men’s Team as well.
Any sporting wagers, anyone?
That would be unprecedented. But she has a superior CV to Saintfiet…
If they by pass T.F and S.C… I would look forward to see this! Certainly global interest and a marketing bonus! TTFA should go for her!
People let’s not get carried away.
I am loving Persad’s idea and watching Liburd side eye 😉
Allyuh will make the President hurt himself with all these thoughts you all putting in his head
With those band of clowns anything is possible ???
DJW just on 95.5 blaming Hart and the media for the shambles football is in now.
Shameless
He claims to have brought in money from sponsorship. Is that true ? Anyone knows?
NLCB signed a big deal for youth football development. But nothing of note for the senior team. Bizarrely so.
Lasana Liburd And what development has started???
I didn’t hear the DJW interview but I was HARTened ? by the post-interview comments of Darion Marcelle who tried to open the eyes of the two hosts who apparently lacked the Football knowledge to properly challenge DJW’s claims.
Lasana Liburd NLCB merely reactivated the sponsorship deal with TTFA and earmarked it for “youth development”. NLCB provided two million dollars per year in the pre-Tim Kee era. We were on the verge of reactivating a sponsorship but Tim Kee decided to become a politician and the NLCB chairman at the time pulled out and said he would not give money to a “PNM TTFA”.
This man has no shame boi
It should also be noted that the conversation with the Shanghai Construction for them to sponsor a China tour for the men’s team actually began with Tim Kee not DJW.
This one-shot approach will get us NOWHERE
Learn from Germany’s approach, Build up the Football!
We do not need a Coach, as badly as we need a Football Development program.
A Coach is useless without disciplined, motivated, INTELLIGENT , football knowledgeable players
Agreed. Still better to have a good one than a crap one though.
Definitely ????????????
Is there a difference between a ” local ” coach and a Trinidadian coach as far as the TTFF is concerned ?
I have no idea what the TTFA’s idea about coaches are anymore. Lol
Since the TTFA got rid of Hart, Keith Look Loy has been warning us to keep an eye on the back door. It’s sounding like very good advice since Saintfiet’s resignation and I recommend that we all take heed.
Me? I trying not to even blink.
I’m a Dennis Lawrence fan but we can’t honestly think Dennis is ready to lead the senior national team with the Hex on the line? He’s never been a head coach at any level by my estimation. If we are thinking long term and giving up on the Hex and want to experient fine, but come on man…. this makes no sense.
I think Dennis Lawrence looks to be a good future coach. Maybe in the very near future. But now seems too much of a gamble. Unless they have totally given up on this campaign.
That’s exactly want I’m saying…. great future coach but we can’t honestly expect an inexperience manager to guide us through the Hex….
Mexico, Honduras, and Panama all have Colombian couches. And here we have yet another Colombian in Fransisco Maturana applying for a position in the Hex.
It could be that there are separate funding sources for various positions? Maybe part of FIFA funding is exclusively for women’s football? As we know, the woman’s programme is less expensive than the senior men’s so more could be invested in staff? Just guessing here!
IN a transparent organization, we wouldn’t have to guess..
Gospel, Brian. But, in T&T, a voice crying in the wilderness
FIFA regulations require at least 15% of total FIFA funding to be dedicated to women’s football. There are also other FIFA-based funding programs that would enable the FA to commit to such a salary. Depends on where they decide to spend; personnel or programs.
Well as we all know the foreign base Coaches always gets the big monies, compared to the “Trini” foreign base Coaches and local Coaches eh. Them really good yes.
Why “Trini”?
..Big money for the coach of a team that doesn’t exist but peanuts for a team in the midst f WC qualifying. TTFA. Rank amateurs..
…or devious, machiavellian administrators, Keith. Consider JAW and Webb and Blatter and Platini et al. There’s always more to football administration than meets the eye.
What if Morace is well connected to sponsors and/or potential advertisers? Let’s examine the iceberg, not just watch the tip.
Lawrence needs not to leave a decent job to come home for this nonsense. Same way Latas would have been much further along in his coaching career if he had stayed assistant manager in Scotland rather than coming home.
Sadly I predict Fervier or Latapy…cause DJW CANNOT tell the others NOT to select Kenwyne Jones…and yes this is where we are.
Two questions.
1) I’m confused as to why Dennis Lawrence was not considered last month before they hired Saintfiet. Can you shed some light on why this was so for me Lasana Liburd?
2) Why are we looking for the best possible coach for the women’s team but it seems we’re looking for the cheapest available option for the men?
Good questions. For the first one, I think they looked at applicants the first time but This time actually reached out to potential coaches.
Your second question has me beat too. I’m thrilled that the women’s program has Morace. But can’t understand why they won’t treat men’s coach with as much respect.
Or probably Ms. Morace coming to coach the both teams hence the large salary ? lol.
They obviously have more faith or hope that the women have a better chance of qualifying for a world cup…At this time.