After Molynes United avoided relegation from the Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League, Head Coach Jermaine Thomas says smaller clubs will need significant financial assistance if they are to be competitive in the future.

Molynes survived the dreaded drop from the JPL, despite a 4-3 defeat to reigning champions Cavalier on Sunday at Sabina Park.

Coming into the Sunday’s final round of fixtures, Humble Lion in 13th on 33, 12th place Chapelton Maroons on 34 points, Molynes in 11th on 35 points and 10th place Harbour View on 36 points were all in danger of being the second team to go down, joining Vere Phoenix United who were relegated weeks ago.

Molynes needed a win to secure their safety but if they didn’t, they would need other results to go their way. Fortunately, their loss to Cavalier did no major damage as Humble Lion, who could have overtaken them with a victory, saw their 17-year run in the league come to an end with a crushing 0-4 defeat to leaders Mount Pleasant Football Academy at Effortville.

It means both teams from Clarendon will exit the JPL while Molynes avoid becoming the first Corporate Area team since Boys’ Town in 2018.

Thomas, who also guided the Molynes to safety last season, says the team is relieved to stay up after facing several challenges throughout the 39 game regular season.

“It was a tough season, a rough one and difficult to manage because for like 12 weeks we played two games every week so when your squad isn’t really a big one, that poses a problem because recovery comes into play and you’re going to be in trouble,” he told then Jamaica Observer.

“But we’re not making any excuses, everybody played under the same conditions but we live to fight another year and it’s for us to evaluate the high and low points and see how best we can fix things going forward.”

Since their promotion to the JPL in the 2019/20 season, Molynes have consistently finished in the bottom half of the table and have been involved in a relegation battle since its reintroduction in the 2022/23 season.

However, Thomas believes there won’t be much change for the 2025/26 season unless they receive greater resources.

“It’s for the league to look at the smaller clubs and say, ‘Hey, resources are important, how can we get some of these clubs help?’.Because it’s difficult to find salaries for the players and to pay them where they can be comfortable or at least motivated to fight on a week in, week out basis,” he said.

“It’s difficult when they’re given below minimum wage on a weekly basis and they have their families to support. It’s going to be difficult to come out and perform but nonetheless, we still fight and still try.”

“Sometimes I do wonder how these clubs manage. It was difficult for us because on a monthly basis, we had to be finding over $3 million to cover bills and that’s not easy. Sometimes God bless what you get from the powers at be but let me hope for a turnaround next season,” he continued

Other results on the day also meant that Molynes would finish 12th with Chapelton Maroons jumping to ninth, Harbour View falling to 11th and Dunbeholden dropping to 10th.

Tivoli Gardens earned the final play-off spot after a 2-1 win over Montego Bay United who end up falling to third with 75 points as Arnett Gardens secured an automatic spot in the semi-finals of the play-offs after thrashing Harbour View 5-1.

The play-offs, scheduled to kick off at Sabina Park on Thursday, will see a repeat of the Montego Bay United and Tivoli Gardens encounter, while defending champions Cavalier take on Portmore United.

•Humble Lion 0, Mount Pleasant 4

•Cavalier 4, Molynes 3

•Chapelton 3, Vere 1

•Arnett Gardens 5, Harbour View 1

•Tivoli Gardens 2, Montego Bay 1

•Waterhouse 2, Dunbeholden 0

•Portmore 2, Racing 0