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Ferguson comfortable working with Whitmore, other coaches in Mount Pleasant set-up
September 17, 2024
Davion Ferguson, who controversially left the position of head at Portmore United FC after three months to resume his role as Theodore Whitmore's second-in-command at Mount Pleasant Academy last week, said even though he enjoyed being the coach of the St Catherine club, he prefers being part of the technical team he and Whitmore have developed over the last few years.
Ferguson watched from the Mount Pleasant bench as his team inflicted a 2-0 win over Portmore United at Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday to kick-start the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season, and he said he never had any trouble with Portmore during his short stint there.
"Portmore is a club I like. I came here and did two excellent months and never had any issues. And I think I added value to Portmore while I was here in terms of structure, players, the team and the entire outlay.
"But myself and Whitmore, we would have developed a team with Dwayne Peters, Lamar Morgan (strength and conditioning trainers)," he noted
"Steve McClaren came here (Jamaica) after being at Manchester United as an assistant. So these things happen. We are a team. People will speak. But the details of my deal is not yet fulsome, but when the overall picture is presented to the public they will understand," Ferguson explained.
Both Whitmore and Ferguson were out of contract upon its expiration at the end of last season. They had guided the club to the JPL finals, but lost out to Cavalier Soccer Club in a penalty shootout in the finals.
In the period that followed, Harold Thomas was brought in to lead the coaching function at Mount Pleasant. But Thomas' brief employment was dramatically terminated after losing his first match in charge.
Whitmore, who had since taken on coaching responsibilities at Cornwall College for the daCosta Cup, was immediately announced as the new coach. Ferguson, who had also moved on to join Portmore United, later renewed his status at Mount Pleasant after the clubs agreed on terms.
Ferguson pointed out that when their (himself and Whitmore) contracts at Mount Pleasant ran out a few months ago, the team had numerous opportunities but chose to hold off, and are now reunited again with the Mount Pleasant project they started three seasons ago.
"When I left Mount Pleasant I had opportunities to move to other clubs in the JPL. We (technical team) also had opportunities to move overseas, in the Caribbean.
"But what was instructive was that they wanted the team we would have developed. Everyone has their roles and functions within this team, and we understand how we work and how we operate," Ferguson outlined.
"So it was easy from that standpoint, going back to the Mount Pleasant project," he stated.
It was initially reported that Portmore wanted $15 million from Mount Pleasant as part of the deal to release Ferguson to his former club. Later, a club source revealed that they were demanding $26 million.
Although Ferguson would not disclose the sum, which STAR Sports understand is over $3 million, he insisted the St Ann club paid far less for what he is valued.
"Not enough for my value. I think I value more," he stated. "That's private information, but the numbers being bandied around are not true."
After Ferguson watched his team defeat Portmore United, he said their objective for the season is just to win.
"We are in the business to win football matches. That is the simple requirement at this level. You have to win football matches. We won the two games we played since we have been back, and we just need to continue to win football matches, and that will take us where we want to go," he commented.
