The Vancouver Whitecaps have decided to part company with head coach, Martin Rennie, who has spent the last two seasons with the club.
The 38-year-old Scot, who coached Cascade Surge, Cleveland City Stars and Carolina RailHawks before joining the Whitecaps in October 2011, guided Vancouver to their first-ever playoff berth after a fifth-place finish in the Western Conference in 2012.
However, he failed to repeat the feat this year after the Whitecaps could only finish seventh in the Western Conference, a development that came as a blow to ‘Caps fans who bet on soccer.
“On behalf of the club, I would like to thank Martin for his work over the past two-plus seasons, not only on the pitch, but in our front office, in our community, and with our partners,” said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi.
“We have made a number of improvements since joining Major League Soccer. However, in order for this club to continue to grow and reach the next level, now is the right time to make this change and move in a different direction.”
The former San Jose Earthquakes coach, Frank Yallop, has already been linked with the Whitecaps vacancy in online betting forums.
The 49-year-old left San Jose for the second time in his career four months ago. He coached the Earthquakes between February 2001 and January 2004 before being appointed manager of the Canada national team.
He spent two-and-a-half years in that role before resigning and taking charge of the Los Angeles Galaxy. He was bought out of his Galaxy contract in November 2007 so that he could return to San Jose.
Yallop grew up in Vancouver but made his name with Ipswich Town, making almost 400 appearances for the Portman Road-based side between 1983 and 1996.
He ended his playing days with Tampa Bay Mutiny before embarking on his successful coaching career.
