Struggling Canadians part with President
Eastern Conference stragglers Toronto FC have parted company with their President and General Manager Kevin Payne.
The Reds are ninth, adrift in their own world, well ahead of bottom side DC United but ten points behind 8th placed Columbus Crew.
After being removed from his role with immediate effect Payne will stay in the city to assist his successor for another month.
Speaking to the Toronto Star Payne said: “I’m disappointed, but this is the way this business works.I’m going to help the team through a transition period. I don’t want to — I won’t — turn my back on this club..”
Payne believed marquee South American signings were the way forward for the team, but while he was in Uruguay coveting the signing of Diego Forlan, the teams form spiralled.
A play off spot is out of reach for yet another year and it may have been that revelation, which began the ball rolling on Payne’s departure.
As well as trying to construct a successful MLS side,The club’s owners Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment are also performing a similar upheaval at NBA side Toronto Raptors.
Payne added he was suprised by MLSE’s move, “I was a little bit surprised, but I understand that Tim ( Leiweke – MLSE CEO) wants to move — not in a dramatically different — but in a somewhat different direction,”
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