User:Micky Taylor/Former Palace, and Croydon Coach Enjoys Cyprus Challenge

Ken Jarvie, former Croydon Manager is enjoying a challenging role as Head Coach at a lower level team in Cyprus. Jarvie is currently the Head Coach of Thoi Pyrgou who play at a level, which in the Cypriot football pyramid, equates to the Blue Square Premier in England. Having travelled much in his coaching roles, Ken has coached in several countries including Italy and now Cyprus. 'I have worked under and with some great coaches, including Ivano Bozzini in Italy, gaining much valuable experience. He goes on to say that this, however, is his most 'demanding challenge to date'. 'Everyone involved at the club tries hard, but there is a lack of structure and direction which filters down to the players'. This is a result, not of lack of effort or commitment, but 'a lack of experience'. 'The first half of the season has been very frustrating for me, but I think I have come to terms with the workings of the club and will be better prepared and more organised going forward'. The Cypriot mentality of players took a bit of getting used to, a fact he found difficult to come to terms with when he was first coaching in Cyprus, with first division side APEP Pitsilias. 'Mental character and strength is not what I was used to in the UK, where the players are in the main very strong characters and mentally disciplined with a very good work ethic'. Despite this he believes that he has a nucleus of players who are developing into a 'nice little team, which has the potential, with a few additions to the squad, to have a good second half of the season and look beyond into next season and be in a position to challenge for promotion'. Ken believes he has some talented lads, 'the two centre forwards, Michalis Georgiou and Nikos Trimintis are a handful for anyone and we have a couple of promising young players in the brothers Vasilis and Rafail Demetriou'. 'We also have an experienced balance with the likes of Yiannis Ioannou, who is comfortable in defence or midfield'. A new stadium has been built for the team by the local authority and Ken is looking forward to taking the team into the new facility which he describes as having an 'excellent playing surface'. The second half of the season continues next weekend and Ken is confident they will get off to a good start. 'The first half of the season threw every problem at me that football could possibly do, so I hope that all our bad luck has been used up'. 'We have had suspensions, players unavailable, injuries, games abandoned and some very dubious refereeing'. 'I have not been able to play the same back four in consecutive games, never mind the same team'. However, he feels with two or three new signings to strengthen the squad, Ken is, as ever, confident he can get a settled side and the team's fortunes will improve. To that end he has already got the signature of a new Polish goalkeeper and a local lad who plays wide midfield. I know Ken from his time with Croydon and what he expects of his teams and I am sure he will work tirelessly to get the best out of the players he has. I wish him all the very best of success with his new club. Let's hope it's not too long before he returns to manage one of our local clubs again.