LIVINGSTON SCOTT, STAR Writer

Barbican women's football coach, Charles Edwards, who was largely tipped to become the next coach of the senior Reggae Girlz, has revealed that he turned down the post. Edwards told STAR Sports that he refused the job for personal reasons.

The job was left open after Merron Gordon exited the position following the team's failed World Cup bid in October last year. Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) boss, Captain Horace Burrell, indicated afterwards that Edwards was likely to fill the void.

However, rumours emerged that Edwards had refused the offer because they appointed him without discussion or notifying him of his appointment. "I refused it not because I don't want to (but), because of the situation that I am in right now. I really need to take a sabbatical from most football and sure up my business. My business is low, and at the end of the day, my livelihood is important, and I have to look after it," Edwards told STAR Sports.

"To add to all that, my father is not well, and all my siblings are abroad, so I am the one who has to look after him. It's just bad timing," he explained. Some persons have questioned Edwards' motive, arguing that there are underlying and unresolved issues between him and members of the Burrell-led administration.

"I have no problem working with captain Burrell or the rest of the team. Captain never really made an appointment, he just said in his remarks that he would like me in the programme. Howard McIntosh came to me, and we had a meeting and discussed it, but no appointment was made and turned down.

"I have nothing personal against Captain (Burrell) or the JFF. I don't want anyone in the JFF believing that it's personal against them," he declared.

Edwards, who coached Barbican women to an historic seven women's league titles and the last three league, mid-season, and knockout titles, said if he were to join the programme now, he wouldn't be able to offer his best. He added that he is also uncertain about his future with Barbican.

"With the club, I can step away when I feel like, but with the national team, you have be there, especially when it comes to travelling. If I am going to do a job, I am going to do it to the best of my ability. I won't go there and give a watered-down performance," he insisted.