Fenwick returns to the top flight, joins Central FC

Fenwick, a four-time (Digicel) Pro League Championship winning coach with San Juan Jabloteh, said, "They (Central) are progressive ...and I've probably got the best package in local football."

Central FC Operations Director Kevin Harrison, another Englishman, confirmed the hiring of Fenwick as Technical Director/Head Coach.

"We are delighted to say that Terry Fenwick is Technical Director/Head Coach," said Harrison. "He is with us on a one year contract for now."

Harrison went further to share that Rix, 55, a former Arsenal and England player and former assistant coach at Chelsea, left Trinidad last December. And that there was a mutual parting agreement between Central FC and Rix.

Meantime Fenwick with a smiled stretched across his face, said, "The best coach is making a return to the (Pro) League."

Fenwick won the League Championship a record 4-times (2002, 2003, 2007 & 2008) during interrupted spells at Jabloteh. His success also included such titles as the FA Trophy and (Digicel) Pro Bowl competitions as well as leading the club to the CONCACAF Champions' League on multiple occasions.

Fenwick's last stint with Jabloteh ended following the 2010/2011 season.

Now the 53 year old Fenwick who currently owns and manages Football Factory academy admits that his new post is a challenging one.

"I've got to start from fresh again," he said. "Its a mess at the moment and I've got to work a bit of magic over the next couple weeks."

But cautioned, "All the top (T&T international) players right now all came through me, such as Lester Peltier, Khaleem Hyland, Kevin Molino and Robert Primus.

"Also most of the players that have passed through me are chased after by local clubs and that's evidence of what I've done in the development of local football."

The former England international went further by pointing out, "North East is almost exclusively Terry Fenwick as well along with the coach Angus Eve.

"And at W Connection assistant coach Anthony Streete worked under me, and the other assistant coach Earl Jean started his coaching with me at Jabloteh."

Fenwick hits the ground running this weekend when Central FC tackles defending League champions DIRECTV W Connection from 6pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Saturday in Round Two Match Day One of the League Championship.

"Always a good game," said Fenwick in anticipation of Saturday's match against his longtime rivals.

"And now that I'm at Central and we are neighbouring rivals, I've seen a nice little house next to (W Connection Owner/President) David John-Williams," he concluded with a chuckle.

Fenwick is back; ex-Jabloteh coach takes over at Central
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868.com)

There will be a familiar English accent and piercing whistle at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva this evening as former England World Cup defender and ex-San Juan Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick takes up the reigns at Trinidad and Tobago Pro League club Central FC.

Fenwick, who won three Pro League titles and several Cups in seven years and five full seasons with Jabloteh, will led Central out in today’s Couva derby against defending champions DIRECTV W Connection from 6 pm. The game is the first of a double header as Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA tackles North East Stars from 8 pm in an eagerly anticipated rematch.

Stars whipped Caledonia 3-1 in the season opener back on September 14 but the defending Caribbean champions have not lost since and have barely put a foot wrong in the Pro League.

In contrast, Connection and Central have been off the boil and they start today’s contest in fifth and sixth place respectively.

But there would be interest in the return of a fierce competitor in Fenwick, a former Tottenham and Queen’s Park hardman whose outspoken, combative style has not made him a favourite of local referees either.

He replaces another Englishman, former Chelsea assistant coach Graham Rix, who failed to adjust to the local game and was homesick.

Fenwick, who is part-owner of Northern Football Association (NFA) outfit Football Factory, told Wired868.com that he is happy to be back in the domestic top flight.

“I think I should be in this (Pro League) because I’m the best and most qualified coach on the island,” Fenwick told Wired868.

The Sunderland-born coach has agreed terms with Central but has not signed his contract yet and that is unlikely to be done until Monday at the earliest. But he is not the sort to shirk a challenge and was happy to face Connection, despite having held just one training session with his “Sharks.”

“It would have been easy for me to sidestep Connection and step in for Central’s next game,” he said, “which would have been against Shiva Boys in the FA (Trophy). But I have ambitions for Central for the rest of the season and those ambitions can only happen if I get in quickly.”

Fenwick declared his immediate goal was to add discipline and structure to the Sharks.

“They have some gifted players but they lack structure and they can’t defend,” he said. “I will bring that organisation and discipline so that we become tough to beat.

“I will like us to be competitive and have a go at one or two of the Cups. What we do in the League is a bonus.”

Fenwick credited Central managing director and World Cup 2006 “Soca Warrior” Brent Sancho and marketing manager Kevin Harrison in bringing him to the club and praised their work behind the scenes.

“Jabloteh never tried off the field initiatives to make the club bigger than it was,” he said. “But Sancho and Harrison are doing that here and they have a lot of bright ideas and ambition. I’m very pleased with Brent because he stood his ground in a very difficult time for Trinidad and Tobago’s football when the Latapys and Yorkes went missing because they didn’t want to upset Jack Warner.

“Brent has put a team in the Pro League whereas Warner took his own out as soon as the FIFA money stopped. So I’m proud of him for doing that.”

The Sharks won their first two League games but their last triumph in this competition came in October while they conceded eight goals in their last two outings against Defence Force and Caledonia AIA.

Central made several acquisitions this month before agreeing terms with Fenwick as Hector Sam (St Ann’s Rangers), Wesley John (Police), Osei Telesford, Justin Fojo (both Puerto Rico Islanders), Rennie Britto (W Connection), Rundell Winchester and Omari Charles (both Stokely Vale) were already signed.

Winchester scored on his debut last month in a 5-2 loss to Caledonia in which Telesford also featured.

Connection has also struggled in recent times as the “Savonetta Boys” drew with Police and were thrashed 5-1 by Defence Force in December while they were also eliminated by North East Stars in the first round of the TTFF FA Trophy competition.

Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier will no doubt try to rouse his men this evening to dispatch a rookie club led by an old foe.