Team source @ DC United tells me Richie Williams turns down head coach job due to club's instability.
Source says Williams wasn't sure of direction of the club or future prospects of being in DC...once again per club source.
via Kristian Dyer of MLSsoccer.com
The depressingly unfortunate stadium situation for D.C. United is something that's been upsetting to United fans for years now. But never before has it so evidently affected the club's on-field potential.
If viewed as a standalone event, this isn't a big deal. Richie Williams was never going to be a good choice for our next head coach anyway. But this could be a sign of a much much bigger problem. If Williams is rejecting the club because he's unsure of its future location, what other coaching candidates will do the same? What DP prospects will share his concerns and sign elsewhere?
over 1 year ago
Martin Shatzer
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FML. Do you know when we’ll hear any actual news about the stadium situation?
A Capital Wasteland - art & hockey from Washington, D.C.
Hate to say it
I completely understand why Williams would balk. DCU is a mess at the moment. The squad is low-quality, moving to a different city is publicly discussed by the club president, and the expectations from the fans are still very high. I can see Williams, whose reputation is quite high, wanting a more stable place to take his first head coaching job. With Toronto and now Chivas already on the market, and Montreal possibly needing a coach in 2012, there are positions where the likelihood of failure is lower.
For what it’s worth, my guess is that Williams would be more nervous about the club’s direction than their location. If I were a coach, the team being in DC or Baltimore wouldn’t be anywhere near as big a concern as having to work under a GM that doesn’t acquire good players and is not held accountable for supplying his coaches with poor rosters.
I’m probably reading more into it than I should, but Charlie Boehm seems to indicate that they might have some options, and (unlike last year) aren’t putting all their eggs into the college coach of the moment before scrambling to fill it when he leaves them.
"I’m happy to have contributed to this league, to have done something important in my career, I’m proud, but you always will think you still could’ve done more, but tonight tells I’ve done things well."
by Bald Pollack on Oct 28, 2010 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions
This was my take, too
Williams doesn’t want to relive Curt Onalfo’s year by coming to a team without enough quality on the roster. I don’t doubt that the stadium situation played some part in it, but I think his biggest concern is coming in to coach a side that doesn’t have any direction on or off the field.
Too bad
I think Richie Williams would have been a good coach for DC United. He’s knows MLS very well and has been successful as a head coach when given the opportunity.
I just hope DCU doesn’t settle for MLS retread with issues like Preki.
Richie Williams would probably be good enough to get us from last place back to 9th place where we belong.
I’d like to aim a bit higher though.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekend Writer for SBNation DC.
by Martin Shatzer on Oct 28, 2010 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions
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