MARC STAMP, STAR Writer

Waterhouse Football Club has added Christopher Bender to its coaching staff for the men's senior team following a defeat at the hands of cellar team Barbican in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) last Sunday.

Waterhouse are second in the RSPL on 50 points behind Arnett Gardens (56), and ahead of Montego Bay United (48) and Humble Lion (45).

However, the surprise 2-1 defeat by last-place Barbican led to Bender's appointment.

The move appeared to have stirred controversy, but the club said it is part of their development plan.

"We have seen weaknesses in the coaching of the senior team that should be corrected. We are now seen in a different light as a football club in the Caribbean and want to keep in a positive mode moving forward. We added Christopher Bender to join Anthony Patrick as co-coaches of the team on Tuesday," club president Ricardo 'Ricky' Chin explained to STAR Sports yesterday.

Chin pointed out that the move is part of the club's direction as they had earlier brought in Altimont Butler in a temporary role as consultant, and Chris Paul as physical trainer.

In addition to the RSPL semi-finals, Waterhouse will be participating in the Caribbean Football Union Club Champion's Cup next month. Last season, the club advanced from the CFU stage to the CONCACAF Champions League, but was edged out by Major League Soccer Club DC United at the group stage.

"We are hoping to again do well in the CFU tournament and advance to the CONCACAF stage," Chin said.

However, Patrick, who served as head coach for over a year, is not pleased with the club's executive decision.

"The club has taken a decision to bring in a co-head coach and that is a surprise to me," Patrick told STAR Sports.

"I'm upset about how it was done as the agreement was to add another assistant coach to work with 'Fuzzy' (Marcel Gayle)," he disclosed.

"Myself and Marcel Gayle have taken charge of 60 games in all competitions and lost only 11. We have been doing well by finishing second in the Premier League last season and winning the FLOW Champions Knockout title and the KSAFA Jackie Bell title last February. There is no reason for the club to do this now."

He pointed out that he has nothing personal against Bender as they are friends.

When STAR Sports visited training on Wednesday, Patrick was missing while Bender conducted training.

Gayle was there but left as usual for training at the University of the West Indies where he is head coach of the Super League team.

"My absence from training on Tuesday was because of personal reasons," Patrick explained.

Meanwhile, Bender admitted that his understanding was to come in and assist Patrick. "I was introduced to the team as joint head coach. That was a surprise to me," Bender said.

During the meeting Bender, said he picked up that Patrick was not in total agreement with the move. "I would not replace Patrick. I am here to work alongside him," he said.

Waterhouse is placed in Group Two of the CFU Club Champion's Cup alongside hosts W Connection of Trinidad and Tobago, SAP FC of Antigua and the Guyana Defence Force. The games in the group will be played in Marabella, Trinidad and Tobago.

The four group winners advance to the semi-finals on May 22. Both finalists and the third-place winner advance to the 2015-16 Scotia Bank CONCACAF Champions League.