Former Golden Jaguars international Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard has confirmed his resignation as the head coach of West Demerara powerhouse Slingerz FC, disclosing that the decision to part ways was based on the belief that he had lost the dressing room.
This was confirmed during an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday. According to Pollard, who previously coached Slingerz FC during the 2013–2014 window, “I think I lost the dressing room for some reason or another because it’s difficult to get my message across to the players, and that’s why I believe that I lost them. As a coach, you have to know when to say or acknowledge that I can’t penetrate these players and need to walk away.”
The former Caledonia AIA and San Juan Jabloteh player, who was reappointed to the helm of the club in January 2023, further disclosed, “Basically, it’s not recent; it was a cut or small and has now become a sore. I decided to part ways and know that if you don’t have a dressing room, you don’t have a team. It’s the best decision; I saved the club because I couldn’t get the players to perform. Life is about surprises and changes, and changes are natural.”
Pollard, who is also an assistant coach to the Golden Jaguars senior programme, secured Elite League status for the Vergenoegen-based outfit following their 1-0 eliminator victory against the Victoria Kings. The team was required to contest an eliminator after losing unexpectedly to Monedderlust via the identical aforesaid score in the final of the Elite League Playoff Championship.
Asked about the reaction of the players to his decision, he said, “The players were disappointed to a point, but it’s a decision that I stood firm on, and no one could have convinced me to stay. I made my decision because it was best for the club, and I can’t be selfish. I love football; I don’t know where I will be next, but don’t count me out.”
Following his decision to leave, rumours of a possible return to fellow Elite League outfit Western Tigers were circulating amongst the football fraternity. However, Pollard quelled those rumours, noting, “There is no truth to that, but things can happen overnight.”
Meanwhile, owner and president of Slingerz, Javed Ali, during an invited comment, said, “The club and the coach were going in different directions. Slingerz is a result-driven team, and the coach and us are going down different paths.”
