Mount Pleasant quash rumour of Downes’ sacking

Mount Pleasant General Manager David Galloway says that Wally Downes has not been removed as coach of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) team. However, he says that the Englishman has been given a little more than one week's leave to recharge.

A source close to the club told STAR Sports that Downes, who had only won one of his last six games in charge, was called to a meeting last Saturday and was stripped of his head coach duties and was to return to his role as academy director.

Downes' assistant Nick Eaden, who oversaw the team's 1-0 win over Vere at the weekend, was said to be in charge for the remainder of the season.

"He is on leave," Galloway told STAR Sports. "He is due to return at a particular date, so he has been given a date to make his comeback.

"He is to return some time in April. We just gave him some time off but he returns on the 25th (this Monday)," he assured.

When pressed for reason why the coach is taking an unconventional leave of absence in the middle of the season, and also if the team's dip in form contributed to this decision, Galloway said, "There is no incident or anything. He just needs a break."

Downes, who started the season with five wins in his first six matches, has been under pressure from Mount Pleasant fans after a string of poor results, with even rumours circulating that former Arnett Gardens coach Jerome Waite was being courted by the club.

Nevertheless, Galloway insists there will be no coaching shake up.

"Everything is all and well at the club and with the coaching structure," he said.

When STAR Sports spoke to Downes late last week, he said he wanted to see out the season as long as the club allowed him.

"I am happy to do the job as long as everyone wants me to do it," Downes said at the time. "I am more than happy to continue filling in as long as I have been asked."

Downes, who joined Mount Pleasant as the academy's technical director in July 2020, only took charge of the main team to fill the void left by Paul Davis, who was sacked after only the first match in the 2021 season.

Although he had promised that there would be a new coach for the 2022 season, that was not the case.

He had a strong start to the season but things turned dramatically midway the first round with the team dropping from first to fourth in the standings.

Mount Pleasant remain fourth in the table after their win on Sunday but move two points clear of Cavalier.

However, Downes will be missing from the sidelines for a second week running, when Mount Pleasant take on Montego Bay United this weekend.