Vassell Reynolds is aware of the mammoth task on hand as he sits in the hot seat as head coach of Harbour View FC trying to return the club to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) summit.

Ever since Ludlow Bernard left the club in 2023 a season after leading them to the JPL title, Harbour View have struggled to challenge for the trophy.

Reynolds is the fourth head coach appointment since Bernard’s departure.

Bernard was surprisingly replaced by then fitness trainer Jason ‘Buju’ Henry for the start of the 2024 season. However, Henry was sacked after just three months following poor performances.

Veteran Sydney McFarlane took charge after Henry before he was replaced in August 2025 by Byjeon Thomas for the start of last season. However, Thomas was dismissed three months in and replaced by Vassell.

Harbour View are sitting in 12th spot with eight points from eight games inclusive of just two wins and four defeats.

“Clearly, there is some work to be done. We have been having some discussions as to the holistic development of the club, not just at the senior level,” Reynolds told Observer Online.

“So my immediate task is to head the senior programme, stabilise the club as it relates to their position in the league,” he continued. “They are 12th right now, not a position that we would have liked to be in or not a position that Harbour View is accustomed to.”

Reynolds, who is also the head coach of Kingston College and among only a handful of coaches to win both the rural area daCosta Cup and urban area Manning Cup, said he was delighted to be asked to lead a club like Harbour View.

“One has to feel honoured to be entrusted to lead such a historical and fantastic club. We all know the history of the Harbour View club,” he pointed out.

Vassell brings to the post a wealth of experience, having coached at Montego Bay United, Sporting Central Academy, Reno, Humble Lions and Chapelton Maroons.

“We have the capacity and the resources of players to improve the situation. Clearly, it will demand a lot of work from us, but I think everybody is hell bent to get the club where we feel a lot more comfortable,” said Reynolds, who is also the head coach of Jamaica’s Under-14 team and assistant to the Under-15 and Under-17 teams.

“There are general discussions about my overall role in the club which may stretch to not just focusing on senior programme but focussing on also to develop the other programmes strategically, the youth programme especially and to get Harbour View back to where it once wer and where it belongs,” Reynolds reiterated.

Harbour View, founded in 1974, have won the Jamaican Premier League on five occasions (1999-2000, 2006-07, 2009-10, 2012-13 and 2021-2022). They also won the JFF Champions Cup four times and the Corporate Area Jackie Bell Knockout six times.

“Harbour View is still the cream of the crop when you talk about football in this country and we must put in a plan to sustain that programme over a period of time,” said Reynolds.