Forde says GFF was prepared for Dooley’s exit amid international interest

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde has revealed that the departure of Golden Jaguars Head Coach Thomas Dooley was not unexpected, noting that the Federation had already begun preparing for the possibility of his exit before the official announcement was made.
In a statement issued Tuesday night, the GFF confirmed that Dooley had decided to pursue opportunities outside of Guyana, bringing an end to his nine-month tenure after taking charge of the national programme on September 9, 2025.
Speaking on the side-lines of an event on Wednesday, Forde said the federation had maintained close communication with Dooley and was aware that the coach was being considered for another role internationally.
“No, it was not a complete surprise, as I’m sure you’re aware, the GFF maintains very, very good relationships with every member of staff, and because of that good relationship, we typically have early warning of any opportunity they might be considering,” Forde said.
“That way we are prepared to start thinking what the future will be. I have had very, very good conversations with Coach Dooley over the past couple of days after he was engaged by an organisation that I wouldn’t name until he makes that announcement or the organisation makes that announcement.”
Forde acknowledged that Dooley’s growing reputation in international football made it difficult for Guyana to compete financially with larger federations, particularly during a World Cup cycle when there is a demand for experienced coaches.
“The truth of the matter is that Coach Dooley is a high-profile coach. We saw clearly what he is capable of doing, and this is why we brought him. It was my hope that he would be with us for two years, but there is a lot of excitement in world football because we are in a World Cup year, and as a small federation, we cannot compete with larger federations,” Forde explained.
“So, when someone is made an offer that we are unable to compete with, the best we can do is thank them for their service and wish them well. It’s not the end of it; this is all part of international football. Coaches will come, coaches will go.”
During his tenure, Dooley guided the Golden Jaguars to victories against Bonaire (2-1), Antigua and Barbuda (4-1), Dominica (2-0), and Belize (3-1) between November 2025 and March 2026.
Forde said those results demonstrated clear progress within the national programme and insisted the federation is already preparing for the next phase.
“Over the next couple of days, I will meet with the council, and we will deliberate what the next steps are. I think the evidence is clear that the programme is growing; Coach Dooley was able to register four good wins, and we will do everything we can to build on that,” he stated.
“To the fans, it could be a bit alarming, but we are well prepared for his exit.”
Looking ahead, Forde said the federation’s immediate objective remains securing promotion back to League A of the Concacaf Nations League.
“We are always thinking about continuity, consistency and stability, and we have a massive task starting September; we are determined to do everything we can to get back to League A,” he said.
“We will look both inside and outside to make our own early assessment to determine whether we have the right personnel in place to achieve that, but there has been no decision as yet because it requires some deliberation at the level of the council first.”
Forde also addressed concerns surrounding the trend of foreign coaches leaving the Golden Jaguars setup after relatively short periods.
Protecting the Federation’s position, Forde noted that international football contracts are structured to allow flexibility for both parties.
“The interesting thing about international football and head coaches is that the federation also wants to have the right to release that person quickly and immediately if they are unable to deliver the results,” Forde said.
“International and national team football are results-orientated, and so the contracts have to be built in such a way that both parties can exercise their right to move on. It is not fair for us to try to lock someone into something when we ourselves would want to get out of it if it were not delivering the expectations of the nation and the national federation.”
Despite the departure, Forde repeatedly praised Dooley’s contribution to the national setup and admitted it was disappointing to see the American coach leave before completing his two-year agreement.