Exclusive Interview with Joe Public's Darryl Warner

1. Are you planning on signing any new players for next season.
A few youth players.

2. Are you planning on bringing in a new head coach to Joe Public for the new season.
No.

3. What is your main aim for next season.
Win the Pro league, Dethrone W Connection's grasp on the FCB Cup, Win the National FA Cup, Win the Toyota Cup, and win the youth competitions that we enter.

4. What's you thoughts on Joe Public performance in the 2008 league.
I am very proud of what we accomplished to date in 2008 especially with a squad of a mere 24 players.  We have had severe team injuries (notably Gary Glasgow, Jason Springer, Shane Calderon, Seon Powers and others). In addition, the hectic schedule of playing games every other day in the Pro League as well as the new CONCACAF Champions League (with overseas travel, adverse weather conditions, etc) and losing a minimum of 6 starting players each and every time there were 2010 WCQ that involved either Trinidad and Tobago as well as Jamaica.  To still be in the top three of the T&T Pro League, beat the top team in the MLS for the last 4 years(New England Revolution - home and away), and to beat a Mexican team in Mexico (Club Atlante -top team in division 1 Mexican league) among my other team performances in the respective leagues (EFA, Super League, etc) has made me very proud.  No other team has played the number of games that we played nor have their players played throughout the year like my players. For example, Mr. Keyeno Thomas has played for the Joe Public FC team and Trinidad and Tobago for the duration of 2008 and has ONLY missed one week of football in the year.  He has played more games than other well known players of Trinidad and Tobago such as Dwight Yorke and Carlos Edwards. I am immensely proud of my club and the respective teams that we have.

5. Everyone expected Joe Public to go further than they did after the New England showing but it was not to be, not only did you bow out but you did so in a disastrous way (performance wise, especially in defence). What are your thoughts on Joe Public performance in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Who is everyone? Again, do advise me of the poll that was taken and who does everyone pertain to? Many of my players were playing at a new level in the 2008 CONCACAF Champions League and it was a new and refreshing experience.  Football is played 11 versus 11 and anyone can win a game on any given day.
As aforementioned, the tight domestic schedule and an abnormal amount of team injuries hurt us in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League but I do agree that our home matches should have been better and I think we respected the teams too much based on their extensive club history unlike the mere 13 odd years of existence for Joe Public FC.  Notwithstanding, it has been said by "everyone: that we should have scored more against New England Revolution.  This just goes to show that you can never satisfy "everyone" regardless of what you do on and off the field of play.  Again, I am very proud of my guys and we created history by being the ONLY team from Trinidad and Tobago with a population of 1.3 million that defeated a team from Boston (where over six million live, eat, sleep and breathe football) and a team from Mexico City (where over nineteen million live, eat, sleep and breathe football).

6. Ever thought of signing any of T&T retiring stars (like MLS do) or out of favor foreign players. Eg, Brent Sancho, Kelvin Jack, Chris Birchall, Evans Wise, Keavaughn Connell, Andre Boucaud, Dwight Yorke, Marvin Andrews, Ian Cox, Kevin Austin to name a few. I am sure it will help the league/young players and also draw bigger crowds.
If you are so sure of this, I suggest that you try to start a football club in Trinidad and Tobago along the same lines of Joe Public FC and adopt that strategy.  You will quickly learn that what works in the MLS and Europe does not work in Trinidad and Tobago.  On another note, Joe Public FC is the social responsibility aspect of the Warner Group of Companies and our intent to is to encourage the development and growth of the youth in the Eastern region as best as possible.  It is not a club that makes a profit, depends on making a profit but we do run/operate like a business but a non-profit entity with a clear vision and direction of our goals and objectives. By the way, North East Stars has signed Brent Sancho and their crowds have not increased in any regard nor have they seen any tangible benefit from his association with them apart from an increased wage bill and making the BIG Six competition.  He has not caused more fans, sponsors, and other tangible benefits to be derived to North East Stars FC thru no fault of his own.  Your view of signing aging stars and the "supposed" benefits they can give a local team is a myth that has yet to be proven in ANY local sport.

7. Is Joe Public affiliated with any clubs.
No we are not associated with any other clubs including Caledonia AIA where it is perceived that they are the sister club of Joe Public FC.

8. FC Dallas and Atletico Paranaense has signed contracts with the T&T Pro League. What has become of that as we have not heard anything after the signing.
For further information in this regard please liaise with the Pro League office staff on same.

9. Are you happy with the way the T&T Pro League is run. If no, what changes do you think should be implied.
Things can always be done a little better with both Joe Public FC management as well as the management of the Pro League.  However, I am very committed and proud of the Pro League staff in the manner that they conduct the league's affairs especially with little or no government funding.  Not even the prize monies for 2007 has been paid to date and this is no fault of the Pro League.

10. How can fans purchase any Joe Public merchandise. Can we also buy season tickets.
We do not have season tickets and fans can purchase any Joe Public FC merchandise via any of the stores of our clothing sponsor - Francis Fashions and Shoe Locker Limited.

11. You have an official website for Joe Public that has not been up to date. Care to touch on this.
The web site has been offline as the site administrator for the web site has is revamping the web site and has not finished the site to the exact specifications as outlined to them.  Like you, I am disturbed by the outdated information on the web site but   have ceased the operations of the web site until the end of the season where it shall be updated and the 2009 team information and 2008 end of season news shall be readily available.

12. How is Joe Public contributing in developing local T&T talents.
This is a rhetorical question that I shall not answer except to mention that no other club in Trinidad and Tobago has a team in every competition of Trinidad and Tobago (Zonal competitions of the Eastern Football Association, Super League, Pro League and invitational tournaments within Trinidad and Tobago).

13. As we all know Joe Public is owned by Jack Warner and every fan probably expect JP to be a top Caribbean/T&T Pro Team because of the resources your club may have at its disposal. What can players benefit (look forward to) for playing for such a club.
Please outline to me what resources are "supposedly" available to Joe Public FC. Unknown to you and every fan is the relevant fact that Joe Public FC is at no advantage over any other club in the football landscape of Trinidad and Tobago in terms of resources at its disposal.  This is another myth that needs to be clarified. Players can expect to benefit by playing with a club that cares about them as a family member versus viewing them just as a paid employee or apprentice.  There are too many examples to give you but I will inform you and your readers that Joe Public FC takes care of our players both on and off the field of play even after they have retired from the game.  For example, it was my club that sent Mr. Micheal McComie, Mr. Derek King and other staff to various coaching courses and technical courses both in and out of Trinidad and Tobago for their development.  Many past players work in the coaching clinic and with the youth teams of Joe Public FC.  Other players that have not wanted to continue with football either from a coaching position or playing position, we have assisted in many of their respective endeavors such as rehabilitation into the non-football work life and assisted them in many other regards.

14. Who is JP biggest rivals.
San Juan Jabloteh and W Connection FC. However, every team wants to be beat Joe Public FC, the team owned by Mr. Jack Warner.

Note: On behalf on the Soca Warriors Online and Warrior Nation, we say thank you Mr. Darryl Warner for taking the time out to do this Q&A Interview for us. We wish you all the best in the future. May Gob Bless you and your family.