By Adrian Frater, News Editor

Reno's captain Fabian 'Lexus' Blake closest to camera sends a Village United player the wrong way in Sunday's Wray & Nephew NPL game at Jarrett Park. Reno won 2-0. - Adrian Frater

Western Bureau

Peruvian coach Danielo Barriga, who was at the helm when Reno FC started their 2006-07 Wray & Nephew NPL football campaign with a 2-0 win against Village United at Jarrett Park, in Montego Bay, on Sunday, has parted company with the Westmoreland club.

"The club is having a difficulty finding sponsors to pay my salary so I basically had to quit," said Barriga, who joined the club two months ago. "I am trying to find another job here in Jamaica but if I can't, I think I will go to Miami, where I have some ties."

When Reno's president Radford Malcolm was contacted by Star Sports for a comment yesterday, he confirmed that coach Barriga had quit following the game against Village United. He also acknowledged that the reason for the coach's departure was the club's inability to meet his salary demand."We had a few sponsors who had given us a commitment that they would have paid coach Barriga's salary but unfortunately they have not kept their word," Malcolm said. "The club's executive paid his salary for two months but we are not able to meet his salary and the players' salaries at the same time so regrettably he had to go."

With Barriga gone, former national goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, who was his deputy, has taken over as head coach temporarily as the club seeks an affordable replacement. According to Malcolm, the club is in dialogue with former national technical director Wendell Downswell and another person. However, nothing concrete has been decided on.

"We are looking at getting a long-term coach so whoever gets the job should be available to us for at least the remainder of the current season," said Malcolm. "It is unfortunate that coach Barriga had to leave because he had an excellent rapport with the players and we were quite happy with him."

Coach Barriga, told Star Sports following Sunday's win against Village United that he had a lot of confidence in the Reno team and believed they could do well in his absence. In fact, he said he would not be surprised if they go all the way to the title.

"I have instilled a lot of discipline and professionalism in these players and I know that they believe they can win," said Barriga. "You saw it in the game against Village United, they were tactically quite disciplined and they worked as a cohesive unit."

When contacted about the possibility of taking over at Reno, a seemingly evasive Downswell said he would rather not comment on that matter at this time. Downswell, who was a star player for Reno in the late 1970s, has served several stints as coach of the club.