JFF moves to ‘maintain stability’

TOP local coach and football administrator Rudolph Speid will be the man in charge when Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz contest the intercontinental World Cup playoffs in March 2026.

Effective December 15, the Cavalier FC boss and Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) technical committee chairman will take charge of the senior men’s national team, on an interim basis, until March 31 next year, the JFF said in a release yesterday afternoon.

Speid replaces Englishman Steve McClaren, who stepped down after Jamaica failed to secure automatic qualification from their final round Concacaf World Cup qualifying group, after drawing 0-0 with Curaçao in their final game to end second in the group.

According to the release, after the board’s deliberation, Speid was appointed to the head coach role, starting mid December and running to the end of the Intercontinental World Cup playoffs in Mexico, at the end of March.

It noted also that discussions are also ongoing with Miguel Coley’s agent, for the former Jamaica College coach to serve as Speid’s assistant. Earlier this week Coley had thrown his hat in the ring after McClaren’s resignation.

“The Jamaica Football Federation wishes to advise the public that president Michael Ricketts has confirmed that in the interim, the JFF board had convened and reached an agreement regarding the technical leadership of the senior men’s national team.

“Following the board’s deliberation Mr Rudolph Speid has been appointed to assume the role of head coach, effective December 15, 2025 until March 31, 2026, while we are in discussion with Miguel Coley’s agent to serve as assistant coach,” the release said.

According to the JFF the appointments were made to ensure continuity in the team’s preparation for the playoffs.

“President Rickett’s emphasised that the interim structure is aimed at maintaining stability during this important period of Jamaica’s football,” it continued.

“The federation is actively working through additional organisational matters, after which a formal update will be provided.

“The JFF remains committed to supporting the Reggae Boyz and ensuring that the team is well positioned for success in its upcoming arrangement,” it added.

Speid had been strongly tipped to assume the interim coach role after McClaren’s departure. He was technical adviser to McClaren, a role he took up in July 2025. The role involved providing opponent analysis due to Speid’s deep knowledge of regional players.

Speid has achieved a lot of success with Cavalier in recent years. He has won the Jamaica Premier League title three times in the past five years and lifted the Concacaf Caribbean Cup in 2024.