Walter Downes is now the new head coach at Jamaica Premier League (JPL) club Mount Pleasant Academy following the immediate departure of Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis, the club announced on Wednesday night (July 14).

The 59-year-old Davis was appointed head coach in September 2019 after the club fired Donovan Duckie early in the season.

Davis led Mount Pleasant to second place in the team standings during the 2019/2020 season.

However, the club is currently seventh in the new season after three matches with a record of one win, a loss and a draw.

His departure follows on the heels of news earlier Wednesday that Calvin Fitzgerald was stepping down as head coach of Molynes United to focus on his role as the club’s technical director.

In a statement released on Wednesday night, Mount Pleasant did not state a reason for the sudden departure of the head coach and coaching staff.

“Mount Pleasant Football Academy wishes to announce the departure of Coach Paul Davis and his technical team,” the statement read.

“Mount Pleasant Football Academy takes this opportunity to thank Coach Paul Davis and his staff for the leadership of our senior team’s technical program over the past four seasons. As a club we are forever grateful to him and his team for their service and wish them well in all future endeavours.”

The statement continued: “The club remains strong and resolute in attaining its sporting and community development goals as we move forward into what will be a new and exciting chapter and pivot towards a new era of growth.

“The successful introduction of six students from the Academy into the senior program, the development of our financial model and the further commercialization and growth of our brand are all actions we are proud of.”

Davis, who represented Jamaica 61 times between 1982 and 1987, scoring 18 goals, has had previous coaching stints in the Premier League. He coached Arnett Gardens from 2010-2012 and was appointed head coach of Montego Bay United in 2016.

He has been in charge of Mount Pleasant on two separate occasions, from 2017-2018 and again from 2019-2021.

Downes, 60, is a former England international, who managed AFC Wimbledon during the 2018/2019 season. He also has previous stints as manager at Newport County and Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Southampton and West Ham.

He joined Mt Pleasant in 2020 to help with the development of the youth teams at the academy.