Earl Jean back with W Connection

Although not winning silverware in 2009, Jean had a relatively good first season as a head coach, leading Jabloteh to runner-up positions in the T&T Digicel Pro League, Toyota Classic and Big 6 competitions.

Jabloteh also reached the semi-final stage of the First Citizens Cup and Lucozade Goal Shield under Jean, until he was replaced by Englishman Terry Fenwick at the end of the season.

At a press briefing at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva yesterday, W Connection officials announced that both Jean and another former W Connection player and T&T national midfielder Reynold Carrington have taken up duty as assistant coaches under their successful St Lucian head coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier.

And former United Petrotrin head coach Brian Williams takes charge of W Connection’s under-18 footballers, while sports therapist Aston Mills also joins the club’s technical staff.

The signing of three young St Lucian players and the departure of a few W Connection stalwarts was also announced yesterday.

W Connection will field a very young team in the 2010 Pro League. Sixteen year-old St Lucian Zane Pierre will vie for a spot in the midfield, while 22-year-old St Lucian national defender Vernus Abbot steps into defence.

Also signed is 18-year-old St Lucian left back Kurt Fredericks.

And W Connection youth players Shahdon Winchester and Ryan Fredericks have moved to the senior squad.

The club’s potent strike force of Trinidad and Tobago international Andre Toussaint and Dominican Republic’s Jonathan Fana Farias is no more.

Toussaint has joined reigning Pro League champs Joe Public, while the prolific Frias is off on a one-year loan to the Puerto Rico Islanders.

The Puerto Ricans also have an option to buy Frias at the end of the loan spell.

And after about ten seasons in Trinidad, veteran Jose Luis Seabra has returned permanently to Brazil, but will still scout for W Connection.

Brazilian wing back William de Oliveira and Colombian striker Igor Santos are also no longer with W Connection, while goalkeeper Marvin Phillip is on a loan spell at Joe Public.

Despite the many changes, W Connection announced their intention to still win as much silverware as possible during the 2010 Pro League season.