Tivoli unwilling to take back 'Admiral'

TIVOLI GARDENS president, Edward Seaga, on Sunday, said the National Premier League (NPL) second-place team has no intention of using Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey as coach, even if he makes contact with the club after going absent without leave for their last six games.

"He just disappeared," Seaga told The Gleaner on Sunday after Tivoli were gutted 2-4 by Portmore United, who replaced them atop the Cash Plus Premier League standings.

"He said he was going away for a few days and nobody has heard anything since," said the former Prime Minister, who sits on the touchline at the Edward Seaga Stadium for every Tivoli game.

"We haven't taken a club position, but if he came back we would be very reluctant to put him in a coaching position. What he did was very irresponsible."

Bailey, a former top-flight deejay, is renowned for taking jobs with tough inner-city Corporate Area teams such as Olympic, Tivoli and Arnett Gardens as well as Rivoli of Spanish Town.

He won the NPL with Tivoli Gardens, the KSAFA Jackie Bell KO with Arnett and won promotion to the NPL with Olympic Gardens.

Got into trouble

The coach got into trouble with the disciplinary committee of the Jamaica Football Football Federation during an away match at Portmore United in early January. He was ejected from the bench after abusing the assistant referees and was subsequently barred from games until he appeared before the committee.

Bailey was afterwards banned for six games but still played his role at Tivoli up to their January 23 away match at Boys' Town.

Media reports earlier this year indicated that Bailey intended to revive his DJ career and was in his final season of coaching.

However, Seaga is not amused by Bailey's "disappearance".

"We're not in a hurry to replace him but we wouldn't want to use him again. We're looking for somebody for next season. We will carry on for now," he said.

- Ainsley Walters