LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Donovan Duckie speaks with Steve Morrissey on October 12 during a match against Meadhaven United. - LeVaughn Flynn

Donovan Duckie said a desire to be a present figure in his nine-year-old son's life prompted him to resign as technical director of Portmore United.

Duckie, who was in his first season with the football club, delivered his resignation via email yesterday morning to Wayne Sinclair, the club's chairman.

"I'm a single parent for the past four and a half years now and my son is getting rebellious, his schoolwork is suffering and it's mentally tough on me," Duckie told The Gleaner yesterday.

Sinclair confirmed he received Duckie's resignation but said little else.

"We haven't had a chance to discuss it as a board or with Mr Duckie, so all I'm prepared to say right now is that he tendered his letter of resignation," Sinclair stated.

Duckie guided Portmore to a record of three wins, four draws and a loss for 13 points and third place in the Digicel Premier League before resigning.

However, he was not on the team's bench for the 3-3 draw at Waterhouse on Sunday.

Head coach Linval Dixon, who guided the club to its fourth title last season, was in charge of that game.

MOTHER'S ABSENCE

Portmore's only loss came last Wednesday in a shock 0-1 home defeat to St Georges, Duckie's former team.

Duckie, who is from Port Maria, St Mary, said his mother has been taking care of his son since he moved to Kingston in the summer when he accepted the job at Portmore. He said the absence of his son's mother has made things more difficult.

"My son's mother is in New York attending medical school and she's been away for over four years," he said. "My mother is elderly and she has to be taking care of him and it's difficult on her.

"When I was at Georges (in Portland), I could just drive home after training as it was just 30 minutes up the road."

He added that he knew the possibility existed for things to become onerous, but decided to take the chance.

"I set my sights on big goals and I wanted the opportunity but now reality is setting in," he stated. "I had to try."

Duckie is the second Premier League coach parting company with his club following Jerome Waite's departure from Arnett Gardens three weeks ago, while Alrick Clarke's tenure with Meadhaven United is questionable.

Duckie said there is no animosity behind his departure.

"Let me make it abundantly clear there is no bad blood between me and anybody at Portmore," he said. "They've been wonderful to me and I've gotten real close to the players, but after careful consideration I had to make this decision."

Duckie said all of his attention will now be on the national Under-20 team which he is preparing for CONCACAF qualifiers next month in Aruba.