Jack Warner, Special Advisor to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, has sent a letter of apology to Ron Atkinson following a decision not to appoint him as Head Coach of the Trinidad and Tobago National Senior Team.
Subsequently, following the approval of the TTFF Technical Advisory Committee and the players, Dutchman Leo Beenhakker was appointed Head Coach.
Atkinson expressed disappointment on not being able to work with the T&T team in his Sunday Sport Column.
“Today I should be writing this as the new manager of T&T and looking forward to the World Cup campaign. But it seems you can never be forgiven for your past sins. Or at least one.
And Dwight Yorke, Shaka Hislop and a few more of the squad I would have taken over might want to look in their hearts and examine their consciences.
Just a few weeks ago in a Birmingham hotel with a West Brom director Dwight Yorke came up to me. " how are you Gaffer?" he said. "Hope you are well, Great to see you".
So I still cant believe hat 4 days after ending off a fax accepting the job that Dwight or anyone else would object.
Jack Warner is on the very top echelon of FIFA. He also is a black man. When he rang me and offered the job— I didn’t apply--he knew what I had said. We discussed it .
So after discussing terms, making plans for the 7qualifying games that I AM SURE WOULD HAVE TAKENTHIS TINY NATION TO THE GREATEST FOOTBALL SHOW ON THE PLANET. I HAD NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED, NOT EVEN WHEN I GOT THE JOB AT MANCHESTER UNITED. But I know the truth about myself, and many black players and officials the world over know the truth about me,” Atkinson stated.