It has been six days since Visakha Football Club announced the early termination of its contract with head coach Gerard Jones. However, the club did not specify the reasons behind the split with the English coach, leaving fans to speculate and draw varying conclusions.
Many opinions suggest that the parting could have been due to incomplete managerial authority and possible interference from the club in the coach’s responsibilities. This issue had arisen before: former head coach Colum Curtis had mentioned similar problems after leaving Visakha in 2021, following the earlier tenure of Jones, who led the club to the Hun Sen Cup in 2020.
Some supporters also believe that disputes over league authority — particularly for major matches — played a role, as Gerard Jones had frequently raised concerns when Visakha’s results were unsatisfactory.
The club’s general secretary Hok Sochetra dismissed these claims, stating that that the decision to part ways with Jones was due to a lack of results under his leadership. He emphasised that Visakha, as a club with abundant resources and long-term ambitions in both national and international competitions, is focused on outcomes.
“A coaching change is always related to results. High-level teams around the world focus on outcomes. Regardless of the club, top teams prioritise results,” he told the media.
“We cannot just talk about team development or experience. Therefore, we recruited a coach with high qualifications. If results are not satisfactory, a change is necessary to achieve better outcomes for the team,” he added.
Under Jones’ leadership in the Cambodian Premier League (CPL) 2025-2026 season, Visakha played seven matches: winning 2, drawing 3 and losing 2. They currently sit in 7th place — an underwhelming performance compared to previous seasons.
Jones expressed his gratitude to the club for the opportunity to lead the team and work with the players, staff and fans, but also disappointment over leaving despite the club’s ongoing development.
“I am proud of the work we have done together and the progress made during my tenure. I sacrificed everything — leaving the US, a stable MLS position, my spouse, children and family — to spend late nights preparing, analysing and creating a positive learning environment for the players,” he said, via social media.
He also expressed disappointment that the club focused mainly on match results, without acknowledging the positive progress behind the scenes.
“At the top level, football is ultimately judged by results and victories, yet there are many positive elements behind the scenes, which I am proud of as a coach and as a person,” he said.
“I will remain grateful for the experience and for everyone who supported me on this journey. It has been an incredible experience, and I will continue to reflect, study and develop for my next role,” he added.
The English coach emphasised that coaching is not just about technical expertise but also involves being a mentor, parent figure and someone who genuinely cares about the players and the game, and it is never easy to lose a position when one has given their all.
Sochetra acknowledged that Jones’ tenure did help improve the team and prepare it for success, as he joined in May 2025, and the club had arranged pre-season matches to allow both coach and players to adequately prepare.
“I don’t believe it was too short a tenure. There was enough time for him. Jones joined two months before the league started, having already observed the end of the previous season, and we made pre-season arrangements for him. I think the team should continue to progress, as we know Visakha has quality and experienced players; it just depends on team management,” he said.
