Gilbert stays - Montego Bay United keep faith with coach despite disappointment

Xavier Gilbert will remain as coach of Montego Bay United. This was confirmed by Gilbert and club chairman Yoni Epstein at the post-match press conference of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) third-place match at the National Stadium on Sunday.

MoBay lost the third-place playoff 3-2 to Mount Pleasant, losing out on a spot in the Caribbean Club Shield.

Despite the anticlimactic end to the season, the Montego Bay United board has decided to stick with the former Arnett Gardens coach for next season.

"I am happy that the chairman said the only way I am not going to be in Montego Bay is if I don't want to be there. I am happy to be there and, as far as I know, I will be there.

"The board and the club have given us tremendous support. We are getting there. We are putting the pieces together. We lost some critical persons during the season. It affected us somewhat but we still tried and gave a good account of ourselves, and we played some attractive football as well," he said.

Club Chairman Yoni Epstein said Gilbert must be given time to develop his squad and that resources will be provided to ensure they go all the way next season.

"Xavier did a phenomenal job this season for us. It's the highest we have ended a regular season (since Epstein’s management group took over).  We had some unfortunate situations throughout the season.

"He has earned it. You cannot be making changes so frequently. He needs time to build his squad. What he did in his first season was phenomenal and I am sure, as we go in the off-season and plan, I am sure he will be given the resources to ensure this problem does not happen again next year."

Still, missing out on regional football was a big blow for the club.

"Disappointed. We really wanted to play Concacaf, Caribbean football and we missed out, and that was our main objective along with winning the title. 

"So we missed out on it and I am very disappointed, but I thought we gave it a good shot. I think we were unlucky, a bit unfortunate. It’s the nature of the game, but we tried and gave it our best and I am proud of the gentlemen and the way they executed," Gilbert commented.

Epstein added: "It's a massive loss for a club like Montego Bay not to be in Caribbean football. It's a massive loss, but I am proud of our boys."

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com