Jaro’s new head coach has had a taste of the challenge of balancing finances and talent to build a competitive Division 1 team. Yle Sporten had a chat with Stephen Ward to see how thoughts went before the start of the season.
Last year’s Jaro offered a strong final sprint in Division 1. Many hoped that the coming season would mean a new step to be able to challenge the favorite TPS and thus get back to the football league. But much has changed since last year and in Yle Sporten’s pre-season ranking, the team has instead dropped to fourth place.
Coach Jimmy Wargh left and Stephen Ward took over at the turn of the year and as a result the squad has undergone major changes.
Ward worked for several years for the Football Association, but chose to make a comeback to club football to get a challenge – and a challenge he definitely got.
The Englishman has had to face an almost impossible task as he tried for just a few months to assemble a capable team before the start of the season.
– When I took over at the turn of the year, we only had two players with contracts, and they were also injured, so it wasn’t exactly a great starting point, says Stephen Ward to Yle Sporten.
During the spring, the coach has focused on securing contracts with the players within the club, while trying to find suitable reinforcements from outside.
Johan Brunell is one of the players who continues at the club.
Image: Yle / Patric Westerlund
FF Jaro, Johan Brunell
But it’s not just accepting any players. Ward’s basic principle is to have a squad with good group dynamics. The individuals must enjoy themselves in the team and they must think it is fun. It is the team’s biggest chance to do well in the coming season.
– As there is good cohesion, individual players have the best chance to perform. And I think we have succeeded in that. There is always a good atmosphere in the dressing room.
But it is not players in abundance that have been the problem for Jakobstad’s pride, instead it has been the opposite.
Difficulties in signing players
As with most Division 1 teams, financial realities have put an end to the acquisition of star players for Jaro. The framework is clear and it is important to make the best of the situation.
– To be honest, most people don’t want to come to Jaro because we don’t have enough money to offer.
Instead, Ward has had to rethink and gather most of the players from the club, something that the association wanted.
– The management has made a decision that we should have as many of our own and try to give them a chance to develop. I knew that when I started and I like the idea.
Ward is keen to see more long-term work at the club and is ready to give players who are ready to make the step up to Division 1 the time they need.
Guillermo Sotelo was sold to HIFK last summer but has now returned to Jaro.
Image: Yle/ Carl-Magnus Långkvist
football, FF Jaro, Guillermo Sotelo
The squad this year, just like in previous years, consists of several Jarofostrade players. The goal has been to find a balance between players who get to take their first steps and develop and more seasoned players from the outside, something that the club also had some luck with when players with Jaro connections returned.
Two of the “new” signings for this year – Guillermo Sotelo and Kareem Moses – were lured back to Jakobstad for personal reasons, and then it became natural that they would play for Jaro.
– Just as a footballer, we would hardly have been able to afford Sotelo, but now we were lucky that he moved to the city for private reasons, so it’s great.
Eremenko is expected to take responsibility
Another player who has returned to the parent club in Jakobstad is midfielder Sergei Eremenko, a welcome addition who is expected to give the team a lift.
– He is a good and important player for us. We want him to take responsibility in both offensive and defensive play.
However, it was never obvious that Eremenko would go to Jaro. Just a month or so ago, the midfielder talked about the messy period where he auditioned for, among others, KPV. But after a conversation with Ward, it became clear that Eremenko would return.
– I always thought that his old club would see to it that he finds a new association, so it was a misunderstanding. But I’m really glad it turned out the way it did.
The attack requires reinforcement
Although the recruitment of players appears to have taken a big step backwards, Ward is still optimistic and overall satisfied with the squad that the club has assembled. It’s a blissful mix of familiar mainstays and some brand new faces.
An exciting new player is, among other things, Nicholas Hamilton, who the club recruited after he auditioned for IFK Mariehamn and was then recommended by former coach Jimmy Wargh, among others.
– It’s clear Hamilton is a risk, but that’s always the case with new players. But I don’t think we need to worry that he wouldn’t be up to the required level.
Shooting king Severi Kähkönen is injured, which has led to a lack of goalscorers.
Image: Yle/ Carl-Magnus Långkvist
fotboll, FF Jaro, severi Kähkönen
Although Hamilton will likely be given a lot of responsibility in Jaro’s attack, the club is in desperate need of another forward and hopes to present a suitable piece soon.
– We are still trying to get a certain type of attacking player, someone who is a little different. We have had several on trial but they have not been what we are looking for.
On Tuesday, the club announced that British striker David Carty had joined for a trial, but he will not make it to the opener on Friday. It remains to be seen if he is the piece of the puzzle that the club has been so desperately looking for.
Jaro meets SJK Akatemia in the opening round on Friday.
