I was adjusting well – Thomas said of first season in RSPL

June 29, 2020
Arnett Gardens’ Paul Wilson (left) escapes a challenge from Vere United’s Javeir Brown during their Red Stripe Premier League game at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Hayes, Clarendon on Sunday, December 8, 2019.
Arnett Gardens’ Paul Wilson (left) escapes a challenge from Vere United’s Javeir Brown during their Red Stripe Premier League game at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Hayes, Clarendon on Sunday, December 8, 2019.
Alex Thomas
Alex Thomas
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Although his first season as head coach in the Red Stripe Premier League was shortened because of the coronavirus, Arnett Gardens head coach Alex Thomas said that he has managed the transition to the nation's top-flight well.

Thomas, who also serves as Wolmer's Boys School Manning Cup head coach, got the job at Arnett Gardens late last August, two weeks before the start of the season after the dismissal of Jerome Waite. With four games left in the regular season, Arnett was in seventh place with 42 points, one point drift of the top six which kept them in control of their play-off hopes.

Thomas said that the biggest adjustment that he had to make was with the added responsibility that came with the role.

"It went fairly well but [it was also challenging at same time because being the head coach you must be on top of your game, always, be alert and attentive to everything," Thomas told STAR Sports.

New role

While his venture into top flight management was not anticipated this early, Thomas said that his history with Arnett Gardens allowed him to better adapt to his new role and was pleased with the style of football the team played throughout the season.

"What made it a little easier for me it's like I was a home-grown talent. Being from the community so you understand the ins and out of the club, you understand the culture and you feel the spectators' cries and you can relate easily," he said. "We played some nice entertaining football. It was an attractive one and I am very pleased with the boys."

Arnett only managed to win two games from their last nine matches in 2020 but were very much in the hunt for the top six at the time of the league's cancellation because of the coronavirus pandemic. He said that he understood the decision, believing that health must be the first priority. He is confident of the trajectory of his squad for the next campaign given a few additions in the summer transfer window.

"I would have the season at the start of the pre-season so I will have a more hand on them. Once we go shopping [in the transfer window] and get a few more players and make the group stronger, everything will be good," he said

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