Waterhouse full back Kemar Rodney makes a sliding challenge but fails to dispossess Arnett Gardens midfielder Kevin King (left), while Waterhouse's Nicholy Findlays on looks on during the Digicel Premier League football match at the Waterhouse Mini Stadium on Sunday. Waterhouse won 2-0. - Ian Allen/Photographer

WHEN THE beleaguered Geoffrey Maxwell commandeered the Waterhouse bench on Sunday against Arnett Gardens for what many believed was going to be his last game at the helm after his team's winless start to the Digicel Premier League campaign, not a lot of things seemed out of place.

The coach had come under immense pressure after the former champions went five games without a point. But the outspoken Maxwell seemed as calm as ever on the touchline, even before his players had battled hard to secure a 2-0 victory against their rivals at Drewsland.

A few chastising barks at his players, one or two indignant replies, everything seemed perfectly normal in Drewsland despite the swirling rumours that a new coach had already been lined up to replace Maxwell, who only returned to the club in July, having signed a two-year deal.

Real danger

In fact, if the usually reliable words of club Chairman Bruce Bicknell are anything to go by, the 60-year-old veteran coach was never in any real danger of losing his job at the team that he led to top-flight promotion in 1995 and a national title in 1998.

Bicknell admitted that the club's top brass had considered all available options - including terminating Maxwell's contract - but insisted that the much-travelled coach has the full support of the club and that he has faith in Maxwell's abilities to lead the team to it's first DPL title since 2006.

Is Maxwell still in charge at Waterhouse? "100 per cent," Bicknell replied. Will he be in charge next week? "100 per cent," he reaffirmed.

Continuing, Bicknell said: "Well things could not remain in this condition and we had to make some drastic changes and removing Geoffrey was obviously on the table or making this his last game, win or lose or win only, but in the end we had faith in him."

The club has, however, made some changes to its management structure with the removal of an unnamed executive member and the resignation of long-time General Secretary Felix Porter. The latter's decision is believed to be related to some internal issues at the club and the recent transfer mix-up involving defender Desmond Breakenridge.

Bicknell's delight

Meanwhile, Bicknell could not contain his delight after watching his beloved outfit notch their first win in front of their appreciative supporters.

"I'm very, very happy for the community, for the executive and most of all I'm happy for Geoffrey (Maxwell). He has gone through a rough time and he deserves this win today. This was a really rough week but it was a positive and productive one that had the input of the players, community and the executive," Bicknell added.

Maxwell was calm following the victory on Sunday and highlighted a heightened sense of unity as the main reason behind the team's turnaround.

Said Maxwell: "What I would say is that the team is back together, there is more unity and that was the major difference tonight. I must thank the backroom staff, without singling out anybody. But I must pay special attention to Bruce Bicknell who has been very supportive.

"The team is more together and there is far more camaraderie. People are beginning to realise that this is a club that wants to win the premier league and it's not about who plays and who does not. The performance tonight is very heart-warming and encouraging," he closed.

( l - r ) Maxwell, Bicknell