FC Dallas interviews SMU's Hyndman for coaching job

What would a FC Dallas search for a new coach be without Schellas Hyndman? Hyndman has coached SMU's men's soccer team since 1984 and is highly respected in the Dallas area as well as college soccer, thus the reason FCD always look his way when the top job is vacant.

He was previously linked to club after the Jeffries dismissal (2003) and the Clarke toss (2006), so is the third time the charm?

In his 24 years at SMU, the team has never had a losing season and are constantly one of the better college sides, however they have never won or even played for a national championship. Hyndman would bring with him a good knowledge of the up and coming college players as well as a divine love of the 4-4-2 formation, but is that enough for MLS?

With the league's hirer profile and bigger names, I'm not sure giving the controls to someone without professional level management experience is the best idea (for a explanation of this, look no further then Steve Morrow).

The next manager of FCD needs to be someone that can come in and command respect from the players, but I'm not sure Hyndman, for all his positives, is the person who can do that.

By the way, former FCD manager and current Puerto Rican national team coach Colin Clarke saw his side fall 4-0 to Honduras last night in World Cup Qualifying. The second leg will take place on the 14th in Puerto Rico.

After 5-1 defeat to LA, FC Dallas fire Morrow

Less then 48-hours after one of the worst results in club history, FC Dallas have sacked head coach Steve Morrow. Morrow took over Dallas after the team fired Colin Clarke in 2006. His MLS record stands at 15-17-8.

Assistant coach Marco Feruzzi will take over till a perminant replacement is found.

Although Dallas got off to a decent start during the first couple weeks of their 2008 campaign, they have only managed 1 point from their last four matches. Combine that with the bad taste from 2007 (including the Denilson debacle, even though that was more of managements design) and you have all the reasons Morrow is looking for a new job.

During his year and a half in change, Morrow never really figured out the FC Dallas back line problem. Also, even though he showed some strength in benching Ruiz for parts of last season, he never seemed to be in control of the club.

As far as replacements, SMU coach Schellas Hyndman will be in the mix, like he always is whenever Dallas looks for a new manager, but he probably will not bit yet again. That should open things up. My guess is it will be someone with limited to little head coaching history.

As far as Morrow, maybe he can still get the job at Walsall.

Colin Clarke would love Northern Ireland job

The man FC Dallas fired and the Virginia Beach Mariners lost when they went under is interested in the Northern Ireland coaching job.

Colin Clarke would greatly enjoy stepping into the shoes vacated by Lawrie Sanchez who has decided to stay on at Fulham.

It would be a great challenge and I would certainly love the opportunity.

"I have been coaching in America for the last 10 years and I have had success the last six years in the MLS.

"I have good credentials that would enable me to take the job. I am confident in myself and my own ability. I know what it takes to win games."

But the job is far from a sure thing for the made that turned FC Dallas from a last place finisher to kings of the West as Hartlepool boss Danny Wilson has been linked with the position as well. However, Wilson said, "as far as I am concerned it is no more than just speculation."

Hopefully Clarke will find a job soon as he is too good to not be on the sidelines.

Jason Kreis about to become Real's new coach

Real Salt Lake general manager Steve Pastorino as resigned and head coach John Ellinger is moving to a different position in the organization. This is not a huge surprise as the team is off to a very poor start to the season and doesn't seem to be progressing week to week. However, there is a surprise when it comes to the new coach.

Jason Kreis, MLS's all-time leading scorer, will retire and take over coaching duties. Ellinger will still stay with the organization, but will now be the team's technical director/director of soccer operations.

Oddly enough, I was going to write a post today about how Real need to remove Ellinger, but I wasn't sure who would take his spot. My first thought was former FC Dallas coach Colin Clarke. Actually, that was about as far as I had gone with my thinking, but I can assure you I didn't think a current player would become coach.

It will be interesting to see what the 34-year-old Kreis can do in Salt Lake.

Virginia Beach Mariners dropped from USL

United Soccer Leagues announced that USL-First Division team Virginia Beach Mariners has been dropped from the league and will not be replaced in time for the 2007 season.

The reason behind this move is a recent ownership dispute that has left the club with no money. They have been trying to find investors over the last ten days, but have not received a firm commitment.

Over the off season, the team hired former FC Dallas coach Colin Clarke.

All players have been released and are free to sign with other clubs.

This is a shame, as it seemed the club was finally coming together after some bad years. It would have been fun to see if Clarke could continue his winning ways in the USL.

Anyway, this means the first division will be made up of twelve teams including new sides the California Victory and Carolina RailHawks. With the reduction in teams, I wonder if they will also reduce the number of playoff spots (they expanded the number from 6 to 8, but they made this decision before the Mariners and Toronto Lynx left the division).