FOLLOWING consecutive defeats, Calvin Lewis has resigned as head coach of Arnett Gardens.

Lewis, who guided the club to fourth place last season — their highest placing in many years, told the Jamaica Observer he believes the time is right with Arnett Gardens sitting in ninth spot on five points after five games.

Following an embarrassing 0-5 defeat to fierce rivals Tivoli Gardens in the Flow Champions Cup semi-finals followed by a 1-2 defeat to Harbour View, Lewis decided it was time to walk.

“I just told them to find a coach by the end of the week (last Saturday). I wish them the best of luck and I hope whichever coach comes he will get the full support of everyone,” Lewis told the Observer.

“There comes a time when you have to know when to walk away and I think it’s in the best interest of the club,” he noted.

Meanwhile, club president Patrick Roberts confirmed Lewis’ departure, but expressed disappointment at the timing.

“We had full confidence in the coach, but he decided that he can’t go any further,” confirmed Roberts.

“The season is young, so we would not want a change right now, but our chairman told us he had a one-on-one with him (Lewis) and he expressed his desire to leave,” Roberts added.

Lewis, who led Portmore United to the title in 2011, surprisingly left for Highgate United the following season before replacing Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis last season at Arnett Gardens.

Jerome Waite, the current coach of Charlie Smith, and the last coach to lead Arnett Gardens to back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002, is said to be the frontrunner to regain the reins at the club.

But Roberts would neither confirm nor deny this, only offering that the club has two coaches in mind.