Patrick awaits Racing decision on future

Anthony Patrick, head coach of Jamaica Premier League (JPL) outfit Racing United, says he remains uncertain about his future with the club following the team's quarter-final exit from the competition this season.

The Gregory Park-based Racing United, who reached the quarter-finals for the first time in the club’s history, were eliminated on Wednesday after suffering a 2-0 defeat in the second leg of their quarter-final against Portmore United at the National Stadium, resulting in a 5-3 aggregate loss.

Patrick, who has been in charge of the club since 2017 when they were competing in the St Catherine Division Two League, said that his contract is set to expire at the end of next month and that the decision on his future now rests with the club’s management.

“It is a difficult answer for me to say if I will be here next season, but I would love to be here; but I don't know what the future holds,” Patrick said. 

“It was only a one-year contract that I signed with the club last year.

“It is now up to the management because I only signed a one-year contract, and so I don't know what the future holds and how they are going to go about what they will decide on,” he added.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on a semi-final spot, Patrick noted that he was proud of what the club achieved this season. 

Racing United secured a play-off berth for the first time in their history after finishing sixth in the standings with 60 points, recording 14 wins, 18 draws, and seven defeats during the campaign.

“I think it was a good achievement for the club, and for the players who stuck with the club and stuck with me, and who have been there from 2017, along with the management and supporters,” Patrick said. 

“We are a little saddened that we dropped out of the competition at this stage. We gave it a good run but it just wasn't enough.”

Patrick also highlighted that his journey with the club has been a remarkable one, as they rose through the football ranks since he took charge eight years ago.

“I built this from the Division Two competition, and that is the lowest league in the country. And that alone tells you that we are coming from far, and so it has been a long journey,” he said. “I am very grateful to the community of Gregory Park and all the supporters who stuck by us.”

Meanwhile, Racing United President Nigel Walker said the club’s management team will meet to review all areas of the organisation before making any decisions regarding the future of the coaching staff and players.

“There are no plans right now, so what we will do is that the management team will have a meeting to look at all aspects of the team, including the coaching staff, players and the supporting staff, and then we will look at the best way forward for Racing,” Walker said. 

“But that has not been done yet and so, as far as I know, Patrick is still here until we have that meeting and we decide the way forward.”

Walker also praised Patrick for the work he has done in guiding the club from Division Two football to the Premier League.

“He has been working with the team for years, he carried us from as low as Division Two straight into the Premier League, so he has done some good work with the team, and the record is there to show,” Walker said. 

“But we still have to look and assess to see where we go forward, and where we want to go as Racing.”