Bailey

Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

ARNETT GARDENS' coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, is seriously considering quitting at the end of the season because football cannot survive in the war-torn community.

"I tell you the truth, a lot of changes will have to be made right now and I don't see in which way these changes will happen overnight. I am not going to commit myself and say you won't see me back and I won't over commit and say I will be back," Bailey told The Gleaner moments after his team suffered its 15th defeat of the season against Boys' Town on Wednesday.

Violence taking toll

Bailey, who took over the Arnett Gardens' reins at the start of the season - his second stint - said violence in the community was killing football and he might just take a one-year sabbatical from coaching.

"You know my track record, and to coach under these circumstances in very hard. I am thinking of taking a season off because I have been doing it over 15 years and sometimes you just have to sit back and collect your thoughts," he said. "Let's see what happen for a month or so, I'll sit down with management and see what can be done to turn this around. Trust me, it is not only players and coaches, it's the whole community. Everything just tumble down and it is creating a negative impact on the whole aspect of the football."

Three-time championsArnett Gardens are in ninth position in the 12-team league on 35 points - their worst performance for years.

"I honestly feel the whole problem in the community is really affecting the players because most of them live in the area.

"Even yesterday (Tuesday), we had to cancel training because of what took place in the community. It is very hard to get them focussed and motivated - even worse at this stage where nothing is at stake."