THE Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has moved to draw clear governance lines within its technical leadership, placing Rudolph Speid on leave of absence from board and committee duties to allow him to focus solely on his role as interim head coach of the Reggae Boyz.

The move, which was confirmed at a board beeting on Thursday, is also meant to separate power, and protect against a conflict of interest in ensuring that Speid would not be in a position to influence or oversee his own performance review.

JFF boss Michael Ricketts confirmed to the Jamaica Observer that Speid has stepped aside from his role as a board member and chairman of the technical committee until March 31, 2026, when his interim tenure with the national men’s senior team is set to come to an end.

He also provided an update on the make-up of the technical team that will be charged with leading Jamaica into the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-offs, noting that several former players, who are now coaching across the world, have expressed an interest in assisting the programme.

“Rudolph Speid has been sent on leave of absence from being a director and from being chairman of the technical committee, so he is actually on leave of absence until the 31st of March,” said Ricketts.

Ricketts noted that the board will assess the situation at the end of the period and decide on his future in the role, based on the results at the play-offs.

He also confirmed that Miguel Coley will return to the assistant coach role, also on an interim basis.

“Depending on what the results are, we will look at what will happen going forward with Speid. Coley has signed the short-term contract, and we are looking at filling some other positions, but that’s where we are as we speak,” said Ricketts.

Two names that have been linked to coaching roles within the new set-up are former Reggae Boyz defenders Tyrone Marshall as well as Shavar Thomas, who served as head coach and assistant coach, respectively, for MLS NEXT Pro team FC Cincinnati 2.

Marshall, who was an interim head coach of FC Cincinnati before taking over the second team, is credited for matriculating several academy players into the first team of the MLS outfit. He was named as MLS NEXT Pro Coach of the Year in 2024.

Both Marshall and Thomas recently ended their four-year association with FC Cincinnati and are expected to be named on the interim Reggae Boyz coaching staff.

“We want to thank Tyrone for his contribution to our club,” read a release from FC Cincinnati General Manager Chris Albright. “His leadership was instrumental in launching FC Cincinnati 2, and he helped build a culture in the MLS NEXT Pro environment that has played a key role in developing talent for the first team.”

Ricketts confirmed that talks are ongoing and that several individuals have registered an interest.

“There were quite a number of past players who were shortlisted, and he [Marshall] would have been one of six or seven or so from that group we will look [at] to see who we will select,” said Ricketts.

Jamaica will play New Caledonia on March 26 in Guadalajara, Mexico, in the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-offs. A win in that match will set up a match against DR Congo on March 31, with the winner securing a spot at the FIFA World Cup.

RICKETTS… depending on what the results are, we will look at what will happen going forward with Speid (Photos: Observer file)