KINGSTON, Jamaica — Andrew Price is the new head coach of Tivoli Gardens FC, replacing Jerome Waite for the upcoming season, and is looking to re-energise the former champions that failed to make the playoffs last year.

Price has been tasked by the club’s current leadership with continuing to develop the young players, following three years of Waite’s guidance.

“I could not refuse based on the relationship I had with the late former Prime Minister and President of Tivoli Gardens Football Club, the  Right Honourable Edward Seaga, when he was chairman of the PLCA and PFAJ when I was the general manager and a director. I saw it fitting to honour his memory and our great relationship,” Price told Observer Online.

“Tivoli has always produced talented players over the years and there are still gems down there waiting to be discovered, such as young Fuller (Nickalia), who had a great run last season. He was able to get a national call-up with his play. So that will be part of my job and mandate, to get young players into the national setups and ultimately get contracts for them overseas,” Price added.

Price, who was recently appointed head coach of his alma mater St George’s College, is no stranger to inner-city clubs, having played and coached at Boys’ Town. Something he believes will aid him at Tivoli Gardens.

“Yes, having the background of coaching inner cities/community teams will assist me with adjusting to working at Tivoli Gardens. You have to possess “leather skin” to coach in these environments. But I have been there and done that. I am prepared for the task at hand,” Price pointed out.

Tivoli Gardens missed the playoffs last season, finishing in 10th spot on 44 points. They played 39 games, winning 11, drawing 11 and losing 17 times. They were 16 points adrift of the playoffs, and Price will have his hands full closing that gap and coping with the hostile fan base.

Founded in 1970, Tivoli Gardens have won the Jamaica Premier League title five times in 1982-83, 1998-99, 2003-04, 2008-09 and 2010-11.