Paul Hall Handed Another Temporary Head Coach Role
Former Reggae Boy given a shot to succeed in English second tier with QPR
Paul Hall, the ex-interim head coach of Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, is back in business with a top-notch stand-in role.
The English-born 50-year-old has been appointed interim head coach of English Championship team Queens Park Rangers. Hall was promoted from leading the U-23 side, following the sudden departure of Michael Beale with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers.
Beale, who only joined QPR in June, had previously worked in a coaching role with Glasgow Rangers but has now been appointed head coach. Hall steps into his shoes and will put behind him the disappointment of a failed World Cup campaign. Despite Jamaica’s patchy performances and poor results, he recently came perilously close to being appointed as Jamaica head coach.
After negotiations broke down, the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) were swift to make a marquee signing. The JFF used some of their sponsorship money from Germany sportswear company adidas to entice the services of former Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimmson, despite publicly referring to Hall as a “frontrunner” for the permanent role.
He got off to a winning start, after being appointed last week, with a 2-1 triumph in a behind closed doors friendly over Scottish Premier League outfit Livingston.
Hall, who bagged 14 goals for Jamaica between 1997 and 2003, will tackle Burnley on 11 December. He has worked his way up through the club over the past decade, from coaching various youth teams.
He explained: “I’ve seen a lot of managers come and go so it’s really important that I get this job right.
“My focus now is just for us to attack Burnley. We need everyone to focus on it because, although these players are resilient, they need everyone to get behind this team as they have got what it takes.”
Hall, who was promoted from Jamaica assistant coach to Theodore Whitmore to interim head coach in December 2021, initially suffered four defeats on the bounce.
He sealed four from a possible nine CONCACAF World Cup qualifying points in his final three games at the helm, with the Boyz bounced out of the campaign.
Yet he seemingly turned the heads at the JFF, but not the majority of coaches and pundits across the island. Monetary negotiations could not be agreed between Hall and the JFF, with Hallgrimmson the surprise appointment to try to guide Jamaica to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
Download The Jamaican Blogs™ App for your Android device: HERE
Remember to share this article on Facebook and other Social Media Platforms. To submit your own articles or to advertise with us please send us an EMAIL at: [email protected]