Ainstein to Montego Bay United?

Waterhouse FC's former Argentine coach Javier Ainstein could be on his way to Montego Bay United (MBU), The Gleaner has learnt.

Ainstein shocked the Drewsland-based club on Tuesday when he handed in his resignation. He was expected to return to Panama, where he and his family reside.

However, in an unexpected twist, Ainstein is said to be heading to the west to join former champions and last season's semi-finalists MBU.

When contacted, MBU chairman Yoni Epstein, all but confirmed the reports.

"You heard that Ainstein is coming to MBU? The club is not in a position to answer that question just yet," he told The Gleaner.

When pressed further, he pointed out that. "It is a rumour. The club is not in a position to say just yet but, when it is ready to indicate, as you saw with Xavier's (Gilbert) promotion (to technical director), it will. We have a lot of different things to work through before we get there," he stated.

Should Ainstein go to MBU, it would be a slap in the face for Waterhouse, who had invested heavily to keep the Argentine on for a second season.

Chairman of the Drewsland-based club, Bruce Bicknell, expressed his disappointment in Ainstein's abrupt departure earlier this week.

"Disappointing in how it was done and handled by him. Disappointed in the amount of investment, resources and time spent to make him a part of the Waterhouse family. So yes, we are upset but we are going to move forward."

Since then, the club secured the service of former coach Donovan Duckie, who took Chapelton Maroons to their best finish in the JPL (8th), last season.

"In his letter to the club, he (Ainstein) said he wanted to be closer to his family.  It was a real sudden move.

"He even posted it online that he was returning. So it is a sudden news, and just the way it was handled, I didn't respect how it is done, but we just have to move forward," Bicknell commented.

According to one Waterhouse source, Ainstein wanted more autonomy over transfers and technical staff appointments, and  that issue was one of the reasons for his resignation.

However, should he go to MBU, he will join a coaching staff being led by technical director Xavier Gilbert.

Meanwhile, Epstein added that Gilbert's promotion is an indication of the club's foresight and willingness to secure its best talents.

"As a club, we have to think about the future. Not only about the now. Xavier is definitely one of the best coaches in Jamaica. He is someone stepping up in the ranks at the JFF level as well and, as a club, it is the smart and right thing to do, to protect our future with a man who knows football, and now he has football in the west in his heart," Epstein said.

"His record shows he deserves the responsibility with the work he has done over the years. People come and people go in systems and most of the time the reason they go is because of how they have been treated or overlooked, and MBU is a club that respects its players, staff and supporters and we do the right things to get ahead."