After nearly 10 years as the Jamaica Football Federation’s (JFF) director of football, Wendell Downswell has retired. He has been replaced by Andrew Peart who officially took office on January 5.
“Peart has been put in place, replacing coach Downswell as the director of football. So effective the January 5, Peart has been the official director of football,” Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts told The Gleaner.
“Downswell will now do a lot of coaching with the coaching education programme and will also be head coach of the under-17s.
“Even though Downswell is in retirement, we still think he has a lot left to offer. He will do some coaching with the coaching school and will help with the general youth programmes.”
He noted that due to the restructuring, they have also shifted some responsibilities around.
“We are looking at his (Peart) terms of reference, his portfolio responsibilities and we have shifted some responsibilities.
“Peart will take over as director of football and he will also take over the Talent Development Scheme (TDS) and that would include grassroots.
“So Peart has a load of responsibilities now but he has the skills and the capacity to manage and do well,” Ricketts said.
While Peart will relinquish his duties as head of the coaching school, he will take on numerous new responsibilities, including setting policies for the federation and ensuring proper documentation.
All development programmes in the parishes and clubs will fall under Peart’s supervision and one of his main functions will be to implement recommendations from the technical committee that are approved by the board.
