REGGAE Boyz head coach Theodore Whitmore has severed ties with assistant Bradley Stewart after obtaining permission from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) to scout for a replacement.

Whitmore, who recently returned home from a three-week coaching attachment in Brazil, yesterday told the Observer he took the decision in order to advance the football programme.

“I have advised the JFF that I need a change in the assistance for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup and World Cup Qualifiers and they have given me a free hand to select the person I need,” Whitmore said without clarifying whether the person resides locally or overseas.

He added: “As soon as I take the decision I will advise the JFF accordingly, but I am thankful for the support Bradley Stewart has given me for the last two-and-a-half years, but I need to move the programme in a new direction.”

Contacted last evening, Stewart said he was not prepared to speak on the issue at this time.

The veteran coach was selected by the then untried Whitmore in 2008 to help guide the team in their final three CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying games, after JFF boss Captain Horace Burrell had dismissed Brazilian Rene Simoes for the poor performance of the team in the earlier games.

Though the Boyz won the three games, they were left with too much to do and narrowly failed to advance to the final round, leaving the Whitmore/Stewart tandem with three wins from as many games in Whitmore’s interim stint.

Jamaican-born former England international John Barnes was appointed to the job shortly after, but was relieved of his duties in 2009, prior to the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA, where Whitmore and Stewart teamed up yet again.

There was to be no success that time, however, as the Boyz were eliminated at the preliminary stage. But the duo rebounded to retain last year’s Digicel Caribbean Cup in Martinique, while competing with some degree of success on the friendly international stage.

In the latest FIFA Coca-Cola Ranking, Jamaica advanced to 48th, their highest ranking in many years.

Still, Whitmore was not willing to divulge too much regarding his request for the change.

“I am not prepared to discuss any further the reasons for my decision, but must use the opportunity to remind all that as national coach it is my responsibility to lead the technical programme and to make the decision that I believe will best serve the positive development of the national team, as is the norm in this environment, the buck stops with me,” he asserted.