Alex Thomas has no doubt that he will be able to repay the Molynes United management’s confidence and trust in handing him the reins to move the club forward in the upcoming Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season.

Thomas, who previously guided former champions Arnett Gardens from 2019- 2021, boast a wealth of youth coaching experience, having coached at his alma mater Wolmer’s Boys’ for over 10 years and, that is said to be perfectly aligned with Molynes United’s medium- and long-term goals.

As part of his appointment, Thomas is expected to capitalise on the players’ strengths and ensure that the club’s deliverables are met in laying a platform for not only growth, but continued success.

Though it seems a daunting task, the 39-year-old tactician said he has already found his footing with pre-season preparations well advanced.

“I’m very proud to be able to lead a team like Molynes United, [and] it means a lot to me that the management saw it fit to entrust me with head coaching duties and I am just going to do my best to take the club to the next level.

“The environment has been great so far, as everyone has been very welcoming and I can tell you that the hard work has already started to ensure that they will be more competitive against the big teams,” Thomas told the Jamaica Observer.

“I’m prepared mentally and physically for the challenge ahead, obviously the main aim is for things to remain organised on and off the field and just getting the guys to stay focused. So all I have asked from the group of players is just to work hard, play to a structure and take everything else from there,” he added.

With its promotion to the JPL in 2019, Molynes United crafted a path to create a strong legacy in top-flight football, but while they have proven competitive in some instances, they have mostly struggled for consistency, which resulted in a changing of the guard to focus on the development of its youth players.

Still, they were found wanting last season, winning only four of 22 games, while drawing three and in that vein, finished 11th on 15 points.

However, Thomas’ presence is hoped to be the proverbial shot in the arm the club needs for its broad development.

Thomas, who was the captain of Jamaica’s Under-17 team to the 1999 World Cup in New Zealand and was also a member of Jamaica’s Under-20 team that qualified for the 2001 youth world cup in Argentina, is confident of delivering the goods.

“I am very confident that I can make a difference at Molynes United and take the club to the next level,” he declared.

“The difference is my style of play. We work on both ends of the field, so every player is an attacker and a defender once we are behind the ball. So it’s all about playing total football and the discipline in the team on and off the field will also be important in how we get things done. So again, it’s just about getting players to buy into a system which will enable us to bring our vision to fruition,” Thomas, who also has one cap for Jamaica’s senior Reggae Boyz, noted.

He will be supported by assistant coach Michael Blygen and goalkeeping Coach Lamar Brown, as they seek to meet the objectives for the 2022-23 season and, by extension, write the next chapter of the Molynes United Football Club.

“[I’m] looking forward to the season [and] I am very excited to be back coaching top-flight football and my ambition and expectations is to take the club to top six. I have raised the bar very high and I think I have the necessary backing to get the team to where it needs to be and that objective for me is top six,” Thomas ended.

— Sherdon Cowan