Former national assistant head coach Donovan Duckie said it was a difficult decision to leave Waterhouse FC after he was unveiled as the head coach of newly promoted team Mount Pleasant Football Academy on Wednesday.

Duckie, who led Waterhouse from the relegation zone to the Red Stripe Premier League final, said he was out of contract at Waterhouse and could not resist the offer by Peter Gould to lead Mount Pleasant in the upcoming season.

“It was a difficult decision for me to leave the Drewsland-based club as the community showed me nothing but love. The players have been wonderful, also,” said Duckie.

“But my decision to leave was due to several reasons. After the season had ended I told the president on June 3, I won’t be continuing as head coach anymore due to certain reasons. I want to make it clear, I have no contractual obligations as I have never signed any contract there. I want to wish them the best in the upcoming season and thanks to the community for their support,” Duckie told the Jamaica Observer.

Duckie, who hails from St Mary, coached at Star Cosmos, St George’s FC, Sporting Central Academy, Montego Bay United, Humble Lion and Waterhouse (twice), is the current head coach of Jamaica’s Under-23 and formerly guided the National Under-20 team.

“My decision to move to the St Ann-based club was mainly due to logistics (as) I am just a few miles away from home, so family, the vision of Peter Gould and the high standards that their academy exemplifies are some of the reasons for joining Mount Pleasant,” Duckie explained.

Mount Pleasant Football Academy, which was formed in 2016, continued their meteoric rise in football and just last Sunday qualified for the nation’s highest league — Red Stripe Premier League.

“I am very upbeat about the challenges ahead. I have been a part of the academy for almost two years, so I am no stranger to the project,” Duckie noted.

“The Under-13 has dominated their competitions and the senior team has now qualified for the RSPL, so there is a great foundation to build on,” he added.

“The club is positioning itself to be a dominant force, but careful planning is key going forward, along with the resources of the club. We are in the process of reflection so careful analysis will be done before we make certain decisions as it relates to transfers. There will be changes. But we cannot determine the magnitude as yet,” said Duckie.