AS a player, Marlon Allen was literally regarded as the old man of Sporting Central Academy’s Premier League team. During his time at Brancourt, he was referred to by teammates and coaches as ‘elder’.

To many, calling a player who is just past his 30th birthday ‘the old man of the team’ might be weird, but such is the nature of things at a club where most of the players are 10 years his junior.

He never seemed to mind it either, as at no point did his teammates’ gestures seem to imply disrespect. It was more a sign of respect for the wealth of Premier League experience he had garnered while playing for the now defunct Galaxy and Rivoli United, and for the discipline he portrayed on and off the field.

Whether he or any of his teammates knew it, Allen’s role at Sporting was actually preparing him for another stage of his football development: that of a coach.

Following a mid-season management breakdown at Sporting, Allen — a father of one — put his playing career on hold to give more attention to his hometown club, Four Paths FC, which he guided to the Major League after finishing second in last season’s Division One.

And the decision might just prove worthwhile for the former Clarendon College left-back, with his side inching closer to a historic Clarendon/Captain’s Bakery Major League title.

A victory in their final game of the season against Rock River at the Four Paths Community Centre next weekend will guarantee them the title and, consequently, clinch a place in next season’s South Central Confederation Super League.

They are three points clear of second-placed New Bowens (34) and four ahead of Jamalco, who have a game in hand, having lost one and drawn five of their 17 games played.

“It’s not a surprise to us that he became a coach,” Sporting defender Linval Lewis said. “His leadership qualities and his willingness to take charge of training sessions was (an indication).”

With relatively no experience, Four Paths seem to be the best club for Allen to launch his coaching career. Not only is he the community’s favourite son — owing to his days as a star daCosta Cup player for Clarendon College and his seemingly clean-cut image — but he is also an integral member of the club.

He is, therefore, unlikely to face any unnecessary pressure to overachieve while the project is in its infancy.

Allen’s official title at the club is still unclear, as his day-to-day involvement in team’s affair is much more than a coach ought to be doing.

“It’s not all about coaching,” he said earlier in the season. “Having a good management structure is very important, so that’s one of the first things that I’m trying to set up.”

“They are (one) of the better structured clubs in the parish,” Clarendon FA vice-president Lee Hines said recently of Four Paths. “They have the type of structure that can withstand whatever difficulties may arise in the season.”

Allen’s youthfulness and composed demeanour also seem to be playing a key role in getting through to his players, who tend to see him more as a big brother than a coach.

Schooled at Sporting, it is only natural he would try to implement the short-passing, ball-retention game at Four Paths. It is yet to be perfected by his young charges, but they seem intent on playing attacking football.

They boast the competition’s best offensive record after finding the net 33 times, while conceding 11 goals for a defensive record bettered only by Jamalco’s nine.

“He is a people person,” Four Paths captain and leading goalscorer Gray Williams said. “He has been playing the game a long time, so him really know what him doing.”

In all likelihood, Four Paths will wrap up the Major League title, but in the event that they fail to do so, Allen would have learnt a lot to from a campaign initially intended as preparation for next season.