Waterhouse chairman frustrated by sudden exit of coach Ainstein

Bruce Bicknell, chairman of Waterhouse Football Club, has described the resignation of Argentine coach Javier Ainstein on Tuesday as a surprise that left the organisation deeply dissatisfied.

Ainstein joined the side partway through the Jamaica Premier League campaign that has just ended and guided them to the quarter-finals. Club officials had anticipated he would remain in charge for the upcoming season.

Instead, he submitted his resignation without warning, forcing Waterhouse to begin the hunt for a new head coach.

Bicknell told The Gleaner that considerable work went into helping the Panama-based tactician settle in, which made his abrupt departure all the more difficult to accept.

"It was disappointing in the way it was done and handled by him. Disappointed in the amount of investment, resources, and time spent to make him a part of the Waterhouse family. So yes, we are upset, but we are going to move forward."

He said the process of assembling a fresh coaching setup is already under way, with a preference for home-grown talent.

"The selection process for the coaching team has started. We will be looking local this time as there are a lot of good coaches around, but we are going to do what is best for the club," said Bicknell.

An official club statement attributed Ainstein's exit to operational disagreements. Bicknell, however, noted that the coach's own letter to the club cited a desire to live nearer to his family.

Despite that explanation, the chairman insisted the parting could have been handled with greater courtesy.

"In his letter to the club he said he wanted to be closer to his family. It was a real sudden move, but we are not looking back. We learned a lot the last season, and we ended up doing pretty well."

"He even posted it online that he was returning. So it is a sudden news, and just the way it was handled, I didn't respect how it was done, but we just have to move forward."

Bicknell added that a revised technical team should be named shortly and that the entire club is focused on building a stronger campaign next season.

"A few of the players contacted me to find out if it was true, and I told them yes and not to worry as we are going to have a good coach and coaching staff no matter what."

"In due course, the public will hear from us in regards to the coaching concern," he added.