Less than a month after returning to former T&T Pro League champions, Clico San Juan Jabloteh, out-of-favour national midfielder Aurtis Whitley, is set to part ways with the Terry Fenwick-coached club again.
This was confirmed by former English international Fenwick who explained the final decision on Whitley, is subject to approval by the club’s board of directors who will meet tomorrow.
It is rumoured that Whitley and Fenwick, had a bust-up during one of the club’s practice sessions last week which led to the latter’s decision to dismiss the player. Asked to give a reason why he has decided to release a player he re-signed at the beginning of the month Fenwick said: “He is just non compliant.”
The 32-year-old Whitley, who spent 11 years at the club, first left Jabloteh back in 2007 to join rivals W Connection but he never settled in at the Savonnetta Boys under coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier.
Last year, Whitley, a member of T&T’s 2006 World Cup Germany squad lined-up for United Petrotrin, however, the club has opted out of the league this season which allowed Fenwick to re-sign the player.
Nevertheless, its seems that Fenwick’s strict style and approach has not gone down too well with Whitley, who was signed on a short term contract. Fenwick added Jabloteh signed the 32-year-old with the intention of resurrecting the player’s career.
Fenwick: I really wanted Whitley to do well.
Randy Bando (ttproleague).
San Juan Jabloteh head coach said he really wanted 32 year old midfielder Aurtis Whitley to do well with his second chance at the club.
“We gave him the second chance, but more so to see him return a brilliant player in midfield,” said Fenwick.
However approximately one month after signing a short term contract with Jabloteh, Whitley was released last week, just a couple of weeks before the start of the 2010 TT Pro League season because of a lack of enthusiasm towards the game and training.
“Everytime we had a running exercise or anything to do with physical training, he (Whitley) had a problem,” said the Jabloteh coach. “He would either have an injury or he would be standing at the sides having water.”
“I really wanted him to do well with his second chance. However I couldn’t accept that around my other players who are working hard in the team,” explained Fenwick.
Fenwick had similar problems with Whitley back in 2007 when he released the player who had 11 years at the club. Whitley then joined rivals W Connection and in 2009, United Petrotrin before returning to Jabloteh this month.
“We’ve got a really small budget, not a lot of money to play with,” said the Jabloteh coach. “So we have to be very careful who we employ.”
“We have a number of players who are young and doing brilliant such as Elijah Manners, Ronald Primus, Sheldon Bateau and we will have a strong Jabloteh this season.”