With Iceland’s Heimir Hallgrimsson days away from officially taking over the reins of Jamaica’s senior men’s football team, some of Jamaica’s foremost football insiders have warned the 55-year-old to focus his efforts on developing the country’s local talent.

Hallgrimsson will be unveiled by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) this Friday as the replacement for Theodore Whitmore, who was relieved of his duties in December after a string of poor results.

Whitmore’s former assistant Paul Hall served as interim head coach for six months, but the JFF has reportedly found their man in former Iceland National Coach Hallgrimsson, who, along with Lars Lagerback, led Iceland to the quarter-finals of the 2016 UEFA European Championships.

Hallgrimsson also led Iceland to the 2018 Fifa World Cup as head coach before taking charge of Qatari team Al-Arabi in 2018.

Football administrator Carvel Stewart welcomed the news that the tactician will join the national programme, pointing to his success at the senior international level and the potential of his signing to trigger support from corporate Jamaica and football lovers across the island.

He was, however, quick to point out that any success will be hinged on the coach’s ability to develop a strong core of local talent and transmit his philosophy to the unit.

“I am hoping now that someone has been identified, and I suspect he is someone of quality because he did lead a fairly successful Icelandic team which was not expected to go very far, and so he must be competent and capable, but I hope that he will spend some time here like [Rene] Simoes did and that he is available to us all the time and not just part-time,” said Stewart.

“I hope that he would see as a part of his mandate to look at the local talent and hold periodic camps with the ones he thinks are exceptional so that, when selected, they will stand evenly with anybody that is brought in from abroad. I have consistently felt that we need to focus on our local people.”

Stewart also believes it’s important that Hallgrimsson spends time increasing the technical capacity of local coaches in a wider developmental approach.

He was, however, clear that the new coach will need the full backing of the JFF and private sector partners if his tenure is to be successful.

“The JFF has to make available all that he requires, even if they think their financial constraints may prevent them,” Stewart said. “However, this may signal something to the private sector. I know the Government has been consistent with its own development, which is necessary, but his appointment can engender a positive response from the private sector, which has generally disappeared or is not noted for their support at this time.

“The JFF has to put in the work necessary to go out and convince people that this is worthy of support and, as a result, be able to provide him [Hallgrimsson] with whatever his programme requires.”

Stewart also underlined the need for the JFF to secure regular matches, to provide the coach with enough opportunities to mould the team while generating support from the wider public.

Michael Hall, a noted sports administrator, believes the Icelander has the requisite experience to make a positive impact once he applies himself and gives opportunities to local players.

“I suppose that there are some parallels that can be drawn in the sense that, you know, the size and population of Iceland and the fact that this guy and his staff were able to put together a programme suited to the talent that they had and really bring a nation together behind the effort,” Hall said. “Will that be applicable in Jamaica? Like everything else, only time will tell, but he does have something to hang his hat on, which is the qualification of a team that nobody expected to qualify for a major tournament. I guess it remains to be seen whether lightning can strike twice.

“Certainly, I think everybody in Jamaica who is a football fan will welcome it. At least it shows that something is being done or an attempt is being made to bring to the coaching post people who have recent success under their belt.”

Hall also highlighted the development of the island’s local talent as a key focus for any lasting impact by the Icelander.

“I don’t know what his mandate is,” Hall said. “I don’t know if he was asked to come to Jamaica to change the football culture, because if that’s what he’s being asked to do then he’s going to need at least 10 years. If he’s coming to Jamaica and being asked the qualify us for the next World Cup, then I think he has to do a lot of groundwork initially when he gets here and be prepared to do the hard yards, tour the country, find players, and try and build a core of local players whom he can mould and not rely so heavily on imports.”