Ian Sawyers Suspended Indefinitely!

Um, that's interesting.

 

It means one of two things:
1. Told the owners what he thinks of them
OR
2. Got physical with players

 

what's #2 supposed to mean?

also, the link is no longer available.....

 

Here's a working link to the ESPN story. No new information:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=649033&cc=5739

BTW, since we are exchanging crazy theories, I'll register a couple of guesses:

1. Owners are interfering with team selection. For example, forcing Sawyers to start Kai even if she's injured or not playing well.

2. Sawyers wants to bring in new international player(s), but the owners will not foot the bill.

 

Either he hit one of them or had relations with one?

 

"Differences have arisen" sounds to me more like they didn't like how he was managing the team or they were interfering more than he liked. If it had something to do with mistreatment of players would think it would read more like "have taken disciplinary action" or "suspended pending an investigation".

 

Gayle, this is surprising in the middle of the season. This seems more serious. IMO, control is usually a factor when something like this happens. Hope they work things out. This new league does not need this.

 

this is bad for the team and league especially in the first year.... have one being both GM and Coach is never a good thing... too involved in management of the team and not challenged on player selection.... not the first time Sky Blue has had differences with Staff / Coaches...

Guess no will be betting on them to win, not that we have

 

The part that is making my head spin is why would they "suspend" him indefinitely. If he had disagreements with management(which was one theory) or vice versa, none of the parts are likely to change their stand, so basically you rescind his contract or terminate him.

In the other hand if something weird with mistreatment of players happened, wouldn't they do an internal investigation before making such a weird statement? or even worse, if its something really bad, wouldn't you terminate him immediately?

On top of everything, the press release or statement has been yanked from the wps site. (possibly because it makes too many of us wonder what is happening)

What could've he possibly done to prevent him from being in the game today, yet still keeps them in the team?

 

He is suspended until the lawyers work out a settlement. He may have a "no termination without cause" in his contract; Hofstetter may have asked him to resign and when Ian refused, he was "suspended".

The original press release had a Washington byline, not New Jersey, which makes me think Hofstetter went down to talk with Sawyers, things came to head and Hofstetter decided to make a change.

 

Sawyers ruffled more than a few feathers while coaching the CyberRays and Stanford. He's very arrogant and most of the players that I know who were coached by him disliked him greatly. I had a chance to watch many of his practices with the CyberRays and I never saw why he was made to be a professional coach. I was surprised he was hired for the WPS, and not surprised about what is happening now.

 

Jacqui Little specifically said she was very glad to be traded from the CyberRays to the Freedom because she didn't like playing for Sawyers.

I'm very surprised that Sky Blue let Charlie Naimo go - I thought he'd be a shoe-in for coach of the WPS team considering the success he'd had at the W-League level.

 

From the release from the match:

"The first half was an emotional battle for us - a bit of a rollercoaster to get into it and feel confident and comfortable," said Sky Blue FC Interim Head Coach Kelly Lindsey.

 

Anyone think a "Where's Ian" sign gets me thrown out of the game ?

 

Blame it on his wife

 

As a Breakers fan I hope this is true...And I hope even more that I have clarification before Sunday's trip to Rutgers!!

Oh what the hell....I'll speculate anyway!

 

Great Article but no explanation HERE

http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2009/05/sky_blue_fc_should_keep_in_min.html

 

Anyone in the NJ area find out anything else about Sawyers' suspension?

 

No, but I am sure that something is looming...

They won't go into Sunday without having it resolved...

 

I wouldn't be so sure about that....
Then again, I'm highly cynical about anything that involves management as opposed to what the organization is actually there for (mostly b/c my mom works for a pharmaceutical company and I always hear about 'the managers vs. the scientists'.... and I've been hearing similar talk in the physics department here at the university I attend)

 

http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2009/05/sky_blue_fc_fires_coach_and_ge.html
Just posted in New Jersey newspaper.

 

I hope that Kelly Lindsey steps up and makes a case to be the Head Coach. I remember her very well as a great player at Notre Dame.