Southampton striker Stern John is hopeful that the current change in coaching duties at the helm of the T&T National Team will bring a better working relationship between players and management.

John was reacting yesterday to the latest development which sees Anton Corneal taking over as interim coach of the National Team following the suspension of Wim Rijsbergen on a decision taken by the disciplinary committee of the TTFF.

John has played under Corneal before and expects him to handle the team in the appropriate manner.

“I think it’s good that Anton has the chance now to be in charge of the team. He has all the credentials and he has been around for a long time now. It’s not about favourites here but I see him as a good coach and under the circumstances now I think his selection is the right one,” John said.

“If you look around now there are a lot of less older coaches getting the experience and Anton has been groomed for this. He’s been to a World Cup before and he’s been groomed under Leo Beenhakker which is to our benefit so we need to use that to our advantage as a country.

“We as players will give him the support. I’m sure the Federation will be looking to bring in a more experienced or high profiled coach that can do the job here but in the time being I think Anton will do well and who knows, if he gets the results in the short term, his chances will be very good for the future position,” John added.

“Whoever is in charge of the national team, once we see it as beneficial and someone who we can work along with then it will go both ways. It has to be situation where the support is coming from all sides. Obviously we have to put all the other issues like the blacklist behind us and look ahead to the next World Cup.

“This is important for the progress of our football. We need to get our country back on the football map because it’s been missing a bit. I think the Federation and the players will work towards this because once you realise too that other countries, like Jamaica with Rene Simoes back, are making strides then obviously we as well want to be on the top of things.

“There must be that combination of experienced senior players with the upcoming ones to ensure the team is in good shape and I believe Anton or whoever is in charge will see it this way as well,” John concluded. He currently has nine goals this season, he played 82 minutes in Southampton’s 1-0 loss to Preston on Saturday resulting from a last minute goal.