Former European based midfielder and Trinidad and Tobago international Anthony Rougier has pulled himself out of retirement registering as coach/player of struggling FC South End.
Rougier who last played professionally for United Petrotrin ended his playing career in 2007 before heading into the managerial aspect of the game with North East Stars in 2008 as a Technical Advisor under then manager of the club David Farrell.
In 2009 Rougier and Farrell combined as partners and founded FC South End, the newest representative club in the TT Pro League, but after seven months into the year Rougier and company are facing hard times.
South End are currently facing financial problems after failed business promises according to Rougier.
“It’s out of retirement for me and I had no intention to doing this,” explained the ex-T&T international. “My intention is still to help a lot of young people in the southern part of Trinidad. But we face a number of problems at the moment stemming from a lack of funds. Some players aren’t paid for the month and they are down at the moment.”
“There a lot of promises and a lot of people wanting to hep but they are still wondering if my plans are going to work in Trinidad. We, David (Farrell) and I have put a lot of our own money into the club but we have reached a point where we can’t do more.
“We have spoken to companies like LNG, Lake Asphalt and Alutrint and I think they should understand that the sport of football can help our communities. Even the players need to see importance of professionalism and together we can improve the way of life in Trinidad because we are all affected when young people go in the wrong direction,” explained the 38 year old Rougier.
Rougier said that he sent a letter to the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs requesting an audience with the Honourable Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Mr. Gary Hunt for assistance and expects that it will happen over the next week.
South End have lost promising teenaged midfielder Marcus Joseph to Joe Public, striker Sylvester Teesdale and Brenton De Leon both to T&TEC and experienced Lyndon Andrews during the pre-season as a result of poor funding.
“I started this club to help the people of south and I am not going to give up,” said the now co-owner/coach/player of FC South End.
There is the possibility that Rougier will suit up for South End in Tuesday’s Round Two Match Day Three clash against Defence Force at the Ato Boldon Stadium from 4pm.
Rougier hopes that his professional experience gained playing in Scotland for Raith Rovers and Hibernian and in England for Port Vale, Reading, Brighton, Brentford and Bristol City will add some sort of stability on the pitch as FC South End hopes to better their eight position on the League standings with just nine points.