[ad_1]
Former England international Ricky Hill intended to not only help Montego Bay United return to its former Jamaica Premier League (JPL) glory as technical director, but to play his part in the youth development of the team. Instead, he becomes the first administrative casualty of the 2022 season.
Hill reportedly left his post earlier this week with the club at the bottom of the Jamaica Premier League standings after the team suffered their fifth defeat of the season on Monday, losing 3-0 to defending champions Cavalier. His departure brings an end to a two-month stint at the club, which has struggled since their return to the country’s top flight.
Montego Bay United president Orville Powell reportedly confirmed his departure from the club on Wednesday but gave no further details on the matter. Both Powell and Hill did not respond to numerous calls made by The Gleaner yesterday on the matter.
Hill had not indicated after the 3-0 defeat that he was considering his future with the club, a future that included a focus on contributing to developing young players for club and country. “My main (aim) is to improve the young professionals that we have here from the 20-year-olds to the 28-year-olds. I want to pass some of that knowledge to the players and coaches so they can improve Jamaica’s football going forward,” Hill said at his introductory press conference on January 11.
THREE-YEAR ABSENCE
Montego Bay United have won the Premier League four times, with their most recent title being in 2016. They were relegated in 2019 but were granted promotion to the Jamaica Premier League after a three-year absence.
However, it has been a dismal start since their return to the top flight, only winning one of the first seven games and being currently at the bottom of the table with four points with an inferior goal difference (-10) to Molynes United (-7), who are also on four points. They have also conceded 17 goals this season, the most of any team in the league at this stage of the campaign.
Powell said that he had chosen him given his desire for youth development as well as the hope of also attracting corporate sponsorship.
Hill has had previous coaching stints at the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the United States; Luton Town, where he spent the majority of his playing career; and San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad and Tobago.
The first game of the post-Hill era will be on Monday when they play Portmore United at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.
daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com
[ad_2]
Source link
