STRUGGLING premiership outfit Arnett Gardens are trying to lure former National Under-20 coach Donovan Duckie to take over at the South St Andrew club following the resignation of Fabian Davis.

The Observer understand that negotiations are well advanced and it is now up to Duckie and his present club, Sporting Central Academy, to sort things out.

Arnett are keeping their fingers crossed and are hoping Sporting will comply with their request and, barring a dramatic about-face on Duckie’s part, the switch should be finalised shortly.

Arnett Gardens club president Patrick Roberts did confirm their interest in Duckie, but as protocol dictates, did not say much on the issue yesterday.

“It is out of respect that we say nothing at this time,” Roberts told the Observer.

Arnett are in dire straits in the Digicel Premier League after suffering their 11th loss of the season from 22 games, including five wins and six draws.

The former three-time champions of 1977, 2001 and 2002 are currently 11th in the 12-team league on 21 points and are in grave danger of being relegated.

The Urban Area club is just one point above cellar team Village United, but just two points behind seventh-placed team Portmore United in a closely-knit midtable.

This poor form forced Davis to resign on Monday and things got even worse for the club when 19-year-old defender Nico Collins collapsed and died after a training session on Tuesday.

“This would be a good move for the club as it would bring back the vibes in light of what is happening at the club now,” said Roberts.

Efforts to contact Sporting Central Academy and Duckie proved futile up to press time last night.

Duckie, 34, is widely considered one of Jamaica’s best young coaches and was drafted into the national programme by the then technical Velibor ‘Bora’ Milutinovic as assistant to David Hunt for the Under-17 programme.

He later acted as assistant coach for the senior team on a tour of Asia.

Under technical director Rene Simoes, Duckie was appointed National Under-20 coach and led Jamaica to within a point of qualifying for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

Jamaica entered their final qualification game against Honduras needing only a draw, but were swamped 4-0. Duckie was subsequently relieved of his coaching duties by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).