MAY PEN, Clarendon — Donovan Duckie, it appears, is fast becoming the favourite adopted son of Clarendon football where he is now undertaking his second spell in under a year with former schoolboy kingpins Clarendon College.

Duckie first coached in this mid-island parish at the Premier League level with Sporting Central Academy, but disappeared mysteriously after the first two rounds of the league.

His sudden departure fuelled rumours of a fall-out between himself and club manager Brandon Murray over a salary package, which it is believed the club could not afford.

But in an interview with the Sunday Observer at his new base in Chapelton last Monday, the former National Under-20 coach said his departure from Sporting had nothing to do with money.

“It was a short stint at Sporting Central,” he said. “We had a verbal contract (in which) I… agreed to fill in for Christopher Dawes.

“He had some overseas engagements and I parted company with them in January. Chris came back in that period, so the transition should have been made. I don’t know what transpired between him and the management team, but I played my part and I thought I did well…,” Duckie added.

Duckie, who said he was being sought by four Premier League teams prior to taking over at Clarendon College, rose to prominence as a young coach after guiding Star Cosmos FC to the National Premier League in 2003 and St Georges SC in 2007.

He has since held jobs at Portmore United and with the national programme at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels.