KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – John Barnes, the former England international, has been replaced as head coach of Jamaica’s football team ahead of next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has not renewed the Jamaica-born Liverpool legend’s contract and his assistant Theodore Whitmore will take over the reins for the Gold Cup.

The announcement was made Sunday night at the National Stadium after Jamaica’s 3-2 win over Panama in a friendly international, a warm-up for the July 4-26 Gold Cup in the USA.

Barnes has landed a contract in England with Tranmere Rovers and begins his coaching assignment with the League One side this summer.

The 45-year-old had hoped to stay with the Reggae Boyz for the Gold Cup and join Tranmere later in the summer but the JFF moved to appoint Whitmore immediately.

“Ideally, I’d loved to have stayed for the Gold Cup, but I respect the decision of the Jamaica Football Federation in giving Theodore Whitmore sufficient time to prepare the team for what will be a tremendous task,” Barnes said.

Barnes had taken over from interim coach Whitmore in November after the JFF fired Rene Simoes for the Brazilian’s lack of success in World Cup qualifiers.

It was a positive note for Barnes to end on, steering the Jamaicans to their first win over Panama in 40 years.

He finished his stint with an unbeaten record of five wins and four draws and his log includes last December’s Digicel Caribbean Championship triumph.

Barnes is expected to begin work soon with Tranmere Rovers, a former club of Whitmore.

JFF president Captain Horace Burrell wished Barnes well as he formally announced Whitmore as the new coach.

“I am very pleased that Barnes has indeed landed a contract at Tranmere Rovers in England. As a result of this, the JFF has immediately appointed Theodore Whitmore as head coach of the Reggae Boyz team, and this will go for one year,” Burrell told reporters.