Jomar Wilkinson has taken over as the new head coach of Somerset Eagles.

He has signed a two-year deal and will spearhead the First Division club’s efforts to rejuvenate their football programme.

“We are very pleased to have such an accomplished coach join our programme and be participating in this new project of seeking to rejuvenate the football programme and have us become more competitive,” Marc Bean, the Somerset Bridge Recreation Club president, told The Royal Gazette.

“Hopefully that translates into our overall goal to get closer to our community and be able to encourage the community to come and give more support and participation. I think Jomar is an excellent representative of what the executive and management committee of the club is seeking to accomplish, so we are very pleased to welcome him on board.”

Wilkinson arrives with great expectations after enjoying considerable success during coaching stints with Dandy Town and Southampton Rangers.

“His track record speaks for itself and, when I say his track record, I speak of his time at Dandy Town in particular and also at Southampton Rangers,” Bean added.

“That’s what stands out for me having observed his work over the last few years. I rate him very highly as a coach and consider him to be one of the top coaches in Bermuda.

“Once he has the support behind him, I feel that his work will be very effective, so we are very pleased to welcome him on board.”

Wilkinson’s duties will also include overseeing the development of at least one junior team during his time at the White Hill club.

“Jomar will be head coach of the senior team and provide oversight with the football committee in terms of development of one or two junior programmes in the community going forward, so that’s very important,” Bean said.

“Not only are we seeking to strengthen our senior team but we are encouraged to make sure our young people in the community have a programme in their neighbourhood that they and their parents can find confidence in allowing them to participate. So that’s very important and he will be leading that charge.”

Wilkinson has not enjoyed the best of times lately after being sacked by Premier Division sides Somerset Trojans and Boulevard in the past two seasons.

“That has been discussed among our peers, and with Jomar, and he was quite open and frank as to his experiences with Somerset and Boulevard,” Bean added.

“It’s not our place to give our opinion on his experiences because who lives it knows it.

“What we are focused on is what we have on offer and what he has accepted from us, and that is we have offered a project that he can really exercise his better judgment and his talent as a coach and push the boundary of his ability.

“We feel that iron sharpens iron and only experience makes you a better person, so whatever he experienced with Somerset and Boulevard is not really a concern to us.

“What we are focused on is our relationship with the players and community and he certainly is on board with that vision.He signed a two-year contract which can be extended upon negotiations and we go from there.”

Bean doesn’t expect overnight success and also views Wilkinson’s appointment as a vital step towards improving the way the club’s players play the game and enhancing its distinctive style of play.

“We are not expecting to challenge or win tomorrow,” he said. “But we need to take the step to advance our objective, and that is to improve the way we play football and hopefully return to our traditional way of playing football, which we call the Eagles Way.

“This is something that a Larry Hunt, a Dale Russell, a Kenny Thompson and a few others have utilised to develop a distinctive brand at Somerset Eagles based on the fact we have the biggest football pitch in the island.

“With that understanding, we do have a philosophy of football that has diminished over the years and we would like to get back to creating that identity which is reflective of our environment. So we feel that we are very blessed to secure a person of Jomar’s calibre and know that he bought into the vision that we have of going from strength to strength and we welcome him with open arms.”