RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Geoffrey Maxwell (left) speaks with captain of the Waterhouse team Desmond Breakenridge at a press conference hosetd by the Waterhouse Football Club to announce the return of the former coach, at the Hilton Kingston Hotel yesterday.
Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
Controversial coach Geoffrey Maxwell responded with humility and gratitude to the public announcement that he would be the man to take the reigns of Waterhouse for the remainder of the 2005 Wray and Nephew National Premier
League season, during a press conference at the Hilton, Kingston Hotel yesterday.
However, the man who fashioned the Drewsland team into a championship unit promised no miracles, even though they are virtually guaranteed a place in the semi-final.
Maxwell, the outspoken coach who was responsible for taking Waterhouse to the premier league, where he also helped them to win the title, said:
"To the management of Waterhouse I would like to say very clearly that I appreciate the opportunity that has been given to me by the club."
Maxwell went on to voice regret at his past indiscretions, saying: "I'd like to point out that in the past there was a very bad incident that revolved around myself. I'm not very proud of what's been done. It's a very sad occasion and heavy prices have been paid and I'd like to take this opportunity to say to a lot of people who have been involved in this that it is a very deep moment for me because I am, quite frankly very sorry for what has happened."
Fraud
That was a clear reference to an act of fraud for which he had been convicted in 2000.
"A moment of judgement can sometimes cost dear lives. It (fraud) must not be looked at or condoned by any community or individual," Maxwell added.
Under the banner of the Waterhouse Football Club, Maxwell will not be allowed the free reign that he has been know to command. While he will have sole jurisdiction over technical matters, managing the club will be left in the hands of the Waterhouse executive.
"There should be no interference with Geoffrey's operation from the management and similarly there should be no interference with management business from Geoffrey as the head coach," said Donovan White, the club's vice-president.
He added: "We will keep those lines clearly marked."
Even before Maxwell's speech, the spirit of forgiveness in the boardroom at the Hilton was high and Reverend Errol Bolt, who started the proceedings with prayer was right on the money when he said: "I think that the beauty of this press conference is that it is a press conference clothed in the beautiful eternal garments of forgiveness."
high expectancy
Even with all that, Maxwell was wary of high expectancy in the Waterhouse community and in the public sphere and warned people not to take their hopes too far.
"I am not promising miracles," he said.
He did agree though, that he was walking into a club that had tremendous potential.
"I think that Waterhouse have the ability to go all the way because my vision is to get Waterhouse back into the CFU (Caribbean Football Union Club Championships)," Maxwell told the media.
