National Cycling coach axed
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com
By Mark Pouchet
mark.pouchet@trinidadexpress.com
November 4, 2010
Six months into a two-year contract, the services of Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (T&TCF) high performance manager Erin Hartwell have been terminated.
In an October 26 letter, the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) informed the T&TCF that the Ministry of Sport's implementation arm "shall no longer be providing your Association with funding to cover the expenses of the High Performance Manager with immediate effect.
"SPORTT is of the view that the association should acquire the services of someone who can prepare the Trinidad and Tobago cyclists for successful participation in the 2012 Olympics in London, England."
T&TCF president Robert Farrier said he did not understand the decision to terminate six-time Olympic and world champion Hartwell's two-year contract, which started in May and was valued at TT$40,000 per month (US$6500/month).
"To my knowledge, the entire executive was totally satisfied with Hartwell. He was a hard worker and brought to us an overall coaching experience and ability, and we were totally impressed with him," said Farrier of the head coach of the T&T teams at the Senior Pan American Championships, the Junior Pan American Championships, the Colorado Springs training camp, the CAC Games and Commonwealth Games.
"I don't know who is advising them (SPORTT) but I think they needed to have interaction on this matter. It is unfortunate," Farrier said, adding that the T&TCF came out of a $500,000 debt this year and depends on Government funding for their programmes.
But Roberts said the Ministry is very concerned about taking public funds to pay for a high performance manager who does not work "day in, day out" with the T&T cyclists. He said when the T&TCF presented Hartwell at the June National Sporting Organisation (NSO) meeting, he had agreed to allow Hartwell to continue, funding the cyclists' Colorado Springs training camp. But Roberts said after he investigated, he realised that Hartwell was not involved in the daily routine of the cyclists.
"I have never heard of an internet coach or a manager just for competition. It simply does not work. So therefore, the cycling federation is autonomous and they can do what they want. If they want to keep the gentleman, it is their choice.
"I also have my choice and I go to Cabinet and fight for money and I take away money from children in hospitals and beds, from roads, from drains, from social programmes to fight for money for sport and I have a decision to make in consultation with my experts here at the Ministry, and we have decided we are not going to spend taxpayers money on anyone who we don't deem is doing the job or putting in enough time to get the best results for T&T. That's our decision.
"I'll give the T&TCF a call and we'll discuss it but if they are very happy with the person they could keep him."