After three years as director of sports at Wolmer’s Boys’ School, Ryan Foster has stepped aside citing family reasons for his departure.

“My primary reason for relinquishing my role as Director of Sports, is solely centred around the fact that I will not have the time to dedicate to sport in Wolmer’s for the upcoming year, especially given that it is a demanding volunteer role,” Foster told the Jamaica Observer.

“As director I would have been so stretched across all sports and with my family position having a new addition to the family that’s my priority,” said Foster.

“It’s more like timing. I won’t have the time to devout as well as I have a young one coming along the way, so you have to prioritis what you doing. But I am still a member of the board,” he explained.

“I have sincerely enjoyed my role as director and I believe we have achieved a lot. However, I believe there are capable old boys and other stakeholders who have that similar passion for the school and will continue to be that rock of support to ensure that Wolmer’s remain the most all-rounded boys school in the country,” he added.

Though not wanting to take credit for the school’s sporting prowess, Foster said he along with the principal and other stakeholders have set a strong infrastructure by securing funding for the sports programmes by introducing several long-term corporate sponsorships. There is also the establishment of a new lawn tennis court.

Under his watch, Wolmer’s Boys’ won the FLOW Super Cup and Walker Cup tootball titles. Became all island Under-14 cricket champions; all island Under-14 basketball champions; Under-16 and Under-19 water polo champions and Under-16 and Under-19 lawn tennis champions.

But with Foster’s resignation, the Observer has learnt that there might be a domino effect ending with a change in the head coaching position of the Manning Cup team held by Rudolph Speid.

Foster was recently appointed CEO of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and has vowed to take sports to a higher level locally, regionally and internationally.

“I have embarked upon a new job as the CEO of JOA and that in itself is a demanding job, especially in light of the challenges ahead. In addition I have some additional family commitments with the addition to my family, of which that is a full-time job in itself,” he stressed.

“The JOA commitment is a full-time job which will require a lot of time to achieve the strategic goals outlined in the new board of directors’ ‘Pathway to Success’ plan.

“This is an opportunity to make a mark on national growth and development through sport development and governance, which takes not only a national approach but one that is regional and international as well. I still have a lot of love and passion for my school and will contribute in whatever other way I can, such as through fundraising for sport and education, as well as being a mentor to the current students,” he added.

In November, Kingston College was named King of high school sports by SportsMax high school ranking and walked away with $100,000.

Foster had high praise for the concept, but thought the system used to select the winners was flawed, which resulted in Wolmer’s Boys’ placing second, and not first.