In the volatile landscape of the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL), newly appointed head coach James Baird has experienced an immediate baptism of fire at 1976 FC Phoenix. The Scottish-born manager’s tenure began with contrasting results: an inaugural 2-1 victory against Point Fortin Civic on December 14 was swiftly countered by a 4-1 defeat to FC Eagles just one week later.
This rollercoaster start leaves Phoenix precariously positioned in the 12-team league table, with their six-point tally from nine matches placing them merely two points above the relegation zone. The team’s inconsistent form prompted technical director Terry Williams to recruit Baird, seeking stability after Delroy Patterson’s troubled opening to the season.
For the 42-year-old strategist, 2024 has proven particularly eventful. After briefly emerging from retirement to play for British Virgin Islands’ Wolues FC in July’s Caribbean Football Union Club Shield, Baird subsequently guided Eagles to avoid bottom-place humiliation in the previous TTPFL season before accepting his current role.
Baird brings considerable international experience to the Tobago-based club, having featured as a goalkeeper across Scottish, Icelandic, American, and Trinidadian leagues before transitioning to coaching. His credentials include technical roles with the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, and the Trinidad and Tobago women’s national team, where he served as goalkeeper coach in 2021.
Having resided in Trinidad for approximately a decade and married in Tobago, Baird expresses profound personal connections to the island. “Tobago means a lot to me. To coach a Tobago team is something special,” he revealed to Newsday. “They gave me an opportunity during a career downturn that ultimately redirected my professional trajectory.”
Despite Phoenix’s challenging circumstances—having played the entire previous season without home matches—Baird maintains realistic ambitions for mid-table consolidation. “If we secure additional reinforcements during the upcoming transfer window, I believe we can push for mid-table positioning,” he stated, emphasizing that long-term development might require multiple seasons.
The coach identifies psychological barriers as equally significant as tactical improvements, noting: “The players don’t fully comprehend their capabilities. We’ve competed closely against every opponent, with narrow margins determining outcomes.” He specifically highlighted defender Jeremiah Bristol, midfielder Antonio Pantin, veteran Trevin Caesar, and league-leading scorer Teejay Cadiz (eight goals) as key talents.
Baird, who prefers to emphasize tactical acumen over his goalkeeping background, aims to implement an aggressive, high-intensity playing philosophy. With Phoenix’s scheduled Boxing Day fixture against Caledonia postponed, the team now looks toward 2026 as an opportunity to transform their faltering campaign and establish Tobago as a competitive force in Trinidadian football.