Following Steve McClaren’s exit in November, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz find themselves in transition mode as they make one last push to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Assistant coach Merron Gordon, however, is eager to remain on-board and use his coaching expertise to help guide the team to the promised land.

The national senior men’s team’s first major assignment of 2026 will be the inter-confederation play-offs in March in Mexico, where they will face Oceania’s New Caledonia and potentially DR Congo of Africa as they vie for the final spot at this summer’s tournament.

Jamaica fell to this position after failing to automatically qualify during the final round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers, finishing runners-up in their group behind Curacao last November.

Nearly two months on, Gordon admits he still hasn’t been able to put it behind him.

“That feeling will never go. Hopefully in March we can do it, but that feeling will never go,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “It was one of the toughest times for me. I started a business last year in August and I said to a lot of people, I’m lucky to have that place to go every day — it was like therapy because it was really tough for me. To see the World Cup one game away from you and it just didn’t happen, it was tough.”

“It was a lot of weight on my shoulders as a local coach. [I received] a lot of bashing but it comes with the territory. I understand [that] people need results — it’s a results-oriented sport. You don’t get a chance to come second, you have to win. That feeling will never go but as more and more days go by, you understand that you gradually have to move on.”

The failure to qualify led to the immediate resignation of McClaren and the departure of his English backroom staff.

Rudolph Speid has since been hired as the interim head coach with Miguel Coley set to be his assistant.

There has been no official confirmation regarding Gordon’s future, having served as assistance since 2021 under former head coaches Theodore Whitmore, Heimir Hallgrimsson and McClaren.

Speid is expected to make an announcement regarding the team’s set-up at a press conference on Wednesday at the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) headquarters in New Kingston. The Observer has learnt that former Reggae Boyz Ricardo “Bibi” Gardner, Tyrone Marshall and Aaron Lawrence were among the options discussed for roles within the backroom staff.

Gordon is keen on continuing in his role but would understand if changes are made.

“The last time I spoke with JFF, I was still in so, hopefully, I’ll be a part of it,” he said. “But I’ll tell you what, football can go in any direction. If they need my help, I will definitely go and give my 100 percent.”

“I’ve supported two foreign coaches before and I’ve no problem supporting a local one. I’ve supported a local one before also in Theodore. Based on what I know, the entire local staff will be there. It’s a new year, though so anything can happen, both with them or with me but I’m open to anything.”

With less than three months remaining before their final World Cup qualification bid, time isn’t kind to the Reggae Boyz’ technical staff, especially with no international windows available to ideally prepare their strongest squad.

However, Gordon believes he can add significant value due to the connection he has with the players.

“I remember talking to a few of the senior ones after Coach McClaren resigned and they were asking me not to go because the transition to the next journey will be important, in terms of what I can do,” he said.

“You don’t want to go into two crucial games with everything brand-new. You want at least something coming over and familiarity sometimes is good, in a sense, in a situation like this. Tactically, I’ve learned so much over the last few years — I was solely in charge of defending set pieces and we did very good defending set pieces over the past two years, so I know things like that I can help with if [I’m] called upon.”

Jamaica play New Caledonia in the semi-final of the FIFA play-off tournament on March 26 at the Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico. The winner will meet DR Congo in the final on March 31 also at the Estadio Akron.

Qualification would see Jamaica join Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan in Group K at this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada with games set for Houston, Zapopan and Atlanta.

In this September 6, 2024 file photo, Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz Assistant Coach Merron Gordon (left) and Head Coach Steve McClaren look on during the Concacaf Nations League game against Cuba at the National Stadium. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

GORDON… I understand [that] people need results (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Curacao defender Shurandy Sambo (left) challenges Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz winger Renaldo Cephas during the final-round Concacaf World Cup Qualifer at the National Stadium on November 18, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)