Premiership sides Rozel Rovers and St Brelade and Championship outfit First Tower United have all seen their first-team coaches step aside since the conclusion of the last campaign, while there will be a familiar face back at the helm of Jersey Scottish – for the time being at least – as Stuart Knox takes a break.
As Pat Brennan makes a return to Scottish while Knox spends time with his family, former St Paul’s midfielder Jody MacCarthy has taken over from Steve Coutanche at Le Couvent after Rozel avoided relegation on the final day of the 2014/15 season. There are still uncertainties over the remaining posts, though, with discussions regarding successors to Tower’s Sam Dustow, who has vacated his position to focus on playing, and St Brelade’s manager Gary McDonald continuing this week.
MacCarthy, who heads into management for the first time, said: ‘It is a new challenge for me but it was a good opportunity for me to stay involved with the game and I’m really excited by it.
‘The first priority is obviously to stay up, but we have some very good players and the aim is to just finish as high as possible. And I’d like a good cup run too to give us the games, as there aren’t a great deal in the league.
‘I’m talking to a few people now to get a coaching team together, and on the pitch we’d like to add a bit of quality to supplement what is already there.
‘The expectations have been raised a bit, and I think it’s time for a fresh face to come in and change things to move the club forward. There are some fantastic players there, so hopefully they can get a manager who can bring in new faces and take them away from being perennial strugglers.
‘I wish the club all the best for the future.’
Scottish’s hierarchy met last night to confirm their change for the upcoming campaign, while both Tower and St Brelade are hopeful of naming replacements in the coming weeks.
