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‘I just wanted to do a good job’

French coach Jacques Crevoisier hosts a coaching seminar at Saltus Grammer School earlier this week. ( Photo by Glenn Tucker )

Jacques Crevoisier has spoken for the first time about his disappointment at having his part-time technical consultant’s contract cancelled by Bermuda Football Association.Crevoisier, a former top –UEFA and FIFA adviser, signed a deal just hours before Richard Calderon stepped down as BFA president almost a year ago.His successor, Larry Mussenden, disapproved of the controversial final act of Calderon’s reign, and with the backing of the BFA affiliates, moved quickly to terminate the contract.The deal would have seen Crevoisier travel to the Island ten days twice a year, pocketing $120,000 per annum.When asked if he wished he had been allowed to fulfil his contract with the BFA, –Crevoisier said: “I’d be lying if I said no.“I don’t understand the problems here, I was never involved in any particular issue, I just wanted to do a good job.“I accepted the decision; I don’t know Mussenden and I don’t know about the BFA programme.“I was asked by Richard Calderon to sign a contract and I signed it.“I appreciate Richard who is a nice man; his brother Robert is the same.“They are completely crazy about Manchester United and are like my football family in Bermuda.”Shortly after his snub by the BFA, Crevoisier cemented a three-year deal to perform a similar role for the Saltus-based ABC Football School as part of a three-year agreement.He left the Island yesterday following an eight-day visit to launch the first of a three-part coaching syllabus targeting players aged between 10 and 16.The FC Sochaux sports –co-ordinator firmly believes he has plenty to offer Bermuda football as long as coaches are open-minded to his ideas.“I’m not God,” he said. “I come here to share my ideas and I’m –frightened by nothing because I’m 64 and I have some experience.“I can compare with anybody here.“If there are some people here who know everything then they are very lucky and they can stay in their corner because I don’t know what to do with them."I'm not a fan of BAA over St George's or North Village against Somerset; if someone is above all of the political problems here it's me.“But if they are open-minded and want to learn more then I’m ready to help them.”Crevoisier returns to Bermuda to roll out two more coaching books on behalf of the ABC School, run by Andrew Bascome and Henrik Schroder, in April when he also plans to start a coaching certification programme.He hopes the BFA will be receptive to the programme and would be happy for them to send some of their National Academy coaches to his sessions.“I hope, perhaps, the BFA would appreciate this is a good opportunity for them to send some coaches to be part of the certification process,” he said.“I’m here to help and bring something different; I want to help raise the level of play in Bermuda.”Crevoisier, who spent several years working for the French Football Federation, currently acts as a psychologist for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.n See tomorrow’s Royal Gazette for Crevoisier’s thoughts on how to improve Bermuda football.