Former national player Paul “Tegat” Davis has called for former Head Coach Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore to be returned to the job.

Davis’s comments follow the resignation of Heimir Hallgrimsson on Sunday.

Whitmore, who is tied on 54 national team wins with Brazilian Coach Rene Simoes, under whom he played, was the man who Hallgrimsson replaced two years ago.

On Sunday, just after a 0-3 loss to Venezuela in their final Copa group stage game in Austin, Texas, their third-straight loss, Hallgrimsson announced his decision to step down, a move that was not totally unexpected.

Davis, who also played for Jamaica in the lead-up to the qualification to the FIFA World Cup in France in 1998, thinks Whitmore would be an ideal fit given his familiarity with the players in the Reggae Boyz squad, some of whom started their national careers when he was the coach.

“Why not go back for Tappa who has a good track record,” Davis told the Jamaica Observer on Monday. “He has proven his worth with the national team and even in the local leagues.”

Davis argued that Whitmore’s familiarity with the players makes him a great fit with the Reggae Boyz returning to action in September and October with games in the Concacaf Nations League, against Cuba, Nicaragua, and home and away against Honduras.

“Tappa knows these players, and it would be an easy fit for him given it could be a while to get another coach from overseas to ensure the smooth continuation of the programme,” he said.

Whitmore, who was confirmed as the head coach of Cornwall College’s daCosta Cup team last week, was unavailable for comment, but he also recently departed Jamaica Premier League (JPL) team Mount Pleasant, where Davis also previously coached, after his contract was not renewed.

Whitmore, who coached his alma mater St James High in the daCosta Cup, spent two seasons at Mount Pleasant, winning in the 2022-23 JPL season, then finishing as runners-up last season, losing to Cavalier on penalties in the final.