Despite being arguably Jamaica’s most successful women’s coach, Charles “Charlie” Edwards has been without an official coaching job in almost a decade. However, the former Reggae Girlz head coach says he’s not retired and is planning to make a comeback in the near future.

Edwards, as head coach, led Barbican FC to a record 12 titles in the Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL), winning nine straight from 2008 to 2016. He also served as head coach of the national senior women’s team from 2007 to 2008 before they were disbanded by the Jamaica Football Federation.

However, Edwards’ last official game of football was on November 19, 2016 when Barbican beat Los Perfectos 4-2 to lift another JWPL title. Since then, Barbican have not entered the competition and have been completely inactive due to financial struggles.

Edwards has since acted as a consultant for several clubs and players while also helping to conduct football camps overseas during the summer months.

However, Edwards says his strong passion for the sport is fuelling his desire to return to coaching.

“I think that I still have a lot to contribute to football,” he said. “I have been bouncing around, helping coaches here and there. Even at Constant Spring, I’ve been supporting, helping them to restructure and do a session here and there. So I’m not totally out of football and I keep myself very current, so I’ll be back in it.

“I love it, it’s a part of my life, it’s in my DNA so I’ll be back in it. I don’t think I can stay out of it too long. I think when I retire from coaching football is when I can’t move any more. As long as God gives me strength and breath, I’ll be coaching.”

Edwards, though, has no intentions of accepting any position that doesn’t meet his financial requirements.

“If you look at a lot of coaches in this country, when they retire, a lot of them are in a bad financial situation where they’re in need of help and support and I don’t want to fall into that trap,” he said. “I’m trying to make sure it doesn’t happen so I have to be very careful of these things.

“My future going forward has to be planned properly financially for when I get back into football. I love coaching, I enjoy coaching, I love the getting the youngsters in the right space, which I’ve done with hundreds of players and a lot of these players are doing well, so I’d love to get back into it but financially, I have to be smarter than I was before.”

The rebranded JWPL, now operated by the Professional Women’s Football Jamaica Limited, kicked off on Saturday with 10 teams.

Edwards says he’s not opposed to coaching a club outside of Barbican but says certain structures would have to be in place.

“We have this tendency in this country that we should depend on the [JFF] to support you and help you along and I don’t think that’s right,” he said. “I think, just like the rest of the world, clubs need to look at themselves, go out and find their own sponsorship and support.

“If I’m coming back into the league, that’s how I’d like to come back, without the dependency of the JFF throwing money at us to help us. Even so, when the JFF is late with it, you have to go in your own pocket and fill the gaps. It’s not a good thing, it doesn’t look good, your pocket gets burnt and stuff like that.”

While admitting he hasn’t been contacted by the JFF, Edwards says he would have no issues in helping the women’s programme.

“If I see where I can support them or give a little advice here or there, I will,” he said. “I’m not in any malicious state or upset with the JFF, I’m just cruising along, keeping my two hands together in a prayerful manner that they will get it right and the women’s league will take off and go to a level where it was before, or even better.”