[UPDATED] Kenwyne Jones named interim coach of Trinidad and Tobago women's team

FORMER national men’s forward and captain Kenwyne Jones has been appointed interim head coach of the Trinidad and Tobago women’s football team.

This was confirmed by a statement from the TT Football Association (TTFA) on Monday. Jones replaced Constantine Konstin, who was appointed in the same role last Wednesday.

The 2006 World Cup player will serve in this role until November 30 while the process for the appointment of the long-term head coach of the women’s team will begin early next month.

TTFA’s statement said, “Jones, a UEFA A Licence holder, will lead the women’s team in the two women’s international friendlies against Panama on October 21 and 25 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.

“He will be supported by senior women’s team assistant coach Charlie Mitchell and the current staff.”

This is the team’s third coach in the last two weeks after James Thomas resigned on October 6 for greener pastures in the United Kingdom after just five months in charge.

His departure saw the questionable hiring, on October 13, of national men’s futsal coach Konstin to lead the Women Warriors.

Konstin’s surprising appointment was rejected by the Unified Football Coaches of TT as they dubbed it “absurd” and hit out at the normalisation committee (NC) – charged with running TTFA’s daily affairs – for “improper technical decisions.”

However, according to the TTFA statement, Konstin decided to “step down” owing to personal commitments after just five days at the helm.

“After consultation with Constantine Konstin, concerning the demands of the women’s international window and personal commitments and conflicts that require him to return to the USA at the end of October, he has mutually agreed to step down and offer Jones and the team support over the international window,” the statement continued.

On his appointment, Jones, who played over a decade (2004-2017) in the English top flight for Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City and Sunderland, was elated.

“I’m absolutely delighted and honoured for the opportunity to coach the Women’s team. Hopefully we will be able to achieve the goals set out for the team in this immediate period.

“I’ll be trying to bring some stability to the squad and to help them focus on the task at hand against Panama,” he said.

Panama will arrive in Trinidad on Wednesday morning and join the TT team in a bio-secure environment at the Home of Football in Couva. The matches kick off from 4pm on both days.

Both matches have received the approval of the Ministry of Health.