Mike Jeffries Replaced as Dallas Burn Head Coach Assistant Coach Colin Clarke Named Replacement on Interim Basis Clarke to Make Debut vs. Chicago Fire on Saturday, September 20th at 7:30 p.m. DALLAS - The Dallas Burn, in the midst of their poorest season in team history (4-16-4), announced today that they have asked Mike Jeffries to step aside effective immediately as Head Coach. Jeffries, who was in his third season at the helm, finished his Burn coaching career with a 23-36-16 record. Current Burn Assistant Coach Colin Clarke will fill the vacant head coaching spot on an interim basis. John Wagner, President of Hunt Sports, made the announcement in the wake of a disappointing season in which the team is currently in last place in the Western Conference standings, 13 points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Kansas City Wizards. "Mike and his staff have worked very hard and we had all hoped for a turnaround, but it doesn't seem to be happening," said Wagner. "We have an obligation to the fan base of the Dallas Burn and Major League Soccer to put a competitive team on the field. We still have six games remaining in the 2003 schedule, including three home games at Southlake Dragon Stadium, and our goal will be to see the organization put its very best effort into resurrecting the remainder of the season. We are appreciative of the efforts that Mike has put into his position, but it is one of the realities of sports that a team must be expected to be competitive." "We obviously cannot expect miracles, but Assistant Coach Colin Clarke has agreed to take immediate control of the team. Clarke is a native of Northern Ireland and brings strong playing and coaching credentials to the Burn. He has been with the Burn for the last three years as an Assistant Coach. His position will be as Interim Head Coach, and he will be considered among other candidates for the future head coaching position." Prior to joining the Burn, Clarke spent the 2000 season as the Head Coach for the A-League's San Diego Flash, guiding the team to a 16-9-3 record and a second place finish in the Pacific Division, and two years as Head Coach for the Richmond Kickers of the same league. From 1998-99, he guided the Kickers to a 38-18 regular season record and two playoff appearances. As a player, Clarke had 38 appearances with the Northern Ireland National Team, where he scored 13 goals, including one in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. From 1981-93, he played professionally in the English Leagues with six different teams, including Portsmouth, Southhampton and Queens Park Rangers. During his 12-year career, he played in 361 English League matches and tallied 146 goals. "Despite what has proven to be a very difficult season, the future is very bright for the Dallas Burn," concluded Wagner. "We are just over a year away from what will undoubtedly be one of the crowning moments in team history with the opening of the finest soccer complex in the country." In April of 2005, the team will open in their new home in Frisco, TX. At the centerpiece of The Frisco Soccer Complex will be a 20,000-seat stadium, the third of Major League Soccer's Soccer Specific Stadiums. Adjacent to the north end of the stadium will be a 17-field soccer complex. Upon its completion, the complex will be the most unique endeavor linking professional soccer and amateur soccer that this country has yet to see. The Complex is a joint project between Collin County, the City of Frisco, the Frisco Independent School District and the Dallas Burn.
If it's true, then it's good for the credibility of the league as a serious sport. Any team that would keep a coach whose team has performed so poorly (although I don't believe them to be that poor a team), obviously isn't committed to winning a Championship, which should be the goal of every organization.
Mike Jeffries Replaced as Dallas Burn Head Coach Assistant Coach Colin Clarke Named Replacement on Interim Basis Clarke to Make Debut vs. Chicago Fire on Saturday, September 20th at 7:30 p.m. DALLAS - The Dallas Burn, in the midst of their poorest season in team history (4-16-4), announced today that they have asked Mike Jeffries to step aside effective immediately as Head Coach. Jeffries, who was in his third season at the helm, finished his Burn coaching career with a 23-36-16 record. Current Burn Assistant Coach Colin Clarke will fill the vacant head coaching spot on an interim basis. John Wagner, President of Hunt Sports, made the announcement in the wake of a disappointing season in which the team is currently in last place in the Western Conference standings, 13 points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Kansas City Wizards. "Mike and his staff have worked very hard and we had all hoped for a turnaround, but it doesn't seem to be happening," said Wagner. "We have an obligation to the fan base of the Dallas Burn and Major League Soccer to put a competitive team on the field. We still have six games remaining in the 2003 schedule, including three home games at Southlake Dragon Stadium, and our goal will be to see the organization put its very best effort into resurrecting the remainder of the season. We are appreciative of the efforts that Mike has put into his position, but it is one of the realities of sports that a team must be expected to be competitive." "We obviously cannot expect miracles, but Assistant Coach Colin Clarke has agreed to take immediate control of the team. Clarke is a native of Northern Ireland and brings strong playing and coaching credentials to the Burn. He has been with the Burn for the last three years as an Assistant Coach. His position will be as Interim Head Coach, and he will be considered among other candidates for the future head coaching position." Prior to joining the Burn, Clarke spent the 2000 season as the Head Coach for the A-League's San Diego Flash, guiding the team to a 16-9-3 record and a second place finish in the Pacific Division, and two years as Head Coach for the Richmond Kickers of the same league. From 1998-99, he guided the Kickers to a 38-18 regular season record and two playoff appearances. As a player, Clarke had 38 appearances with the Northern Ireland National Team, where he scored 13 goals, including one in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. From 1981-93, he played professionally in the English Leagues with six different teams, including Portsmouth, Southhampton and Queens Park Rangers. During his 12-year career, he played in 361 English League matches and tallied 146 goals. "Despite what has proven to be a very difficult season, the future is very bright for the Dallas Burn," concluded Wagner. "We are just over a year away from what will undoubtedly be one of the crowning moments in team history with the opening of the finest soccer complex in the country." In April of 2005, the team will open in their new home in Frisco, TX. At the centerpiece of The Frisco Soccer Complex will be a 20,000-seat stadium, the third of Major League Soccer's Soccer Specific Stadiums. Adjacent to the north end of the stadium will be a 17-field soccer complex. Upon its completion, the complex will be the most unique endeavor linking professional soccer and amateur soccer that this country has yet to see. The Complex is a joint project between Collin County, the City of Frisco, the Frisco Independent School District and the Dallas Burn.
Don't sweat it. Personally, I was amused to come into the forum and see three threads from three different posters, all with the subject line "Jeffries fired." I'll be merging them.
Good luck Mike I feel bad for Mike, but a change had to be made. And it should have been several weeks ago. This turkey of a season is done and over with. Everything that could go wrong, did. It will be interesting to see who takes over. Maybe this will light a "fire" under some players SS this weekend so we can play spoiler to arch-enemy Chicago.
Well let me say I was totally surprised by this firing. By timing more than anything. All pointers I was getting said the money was too big an issue and Jeffries would make it to next season at least. I had already planned to go to training tomorrow. Now I certainly will have some interesting talking points and will try to have a report up sometime tomorrow afternoon. http://www.3rddegree.net/
I'm completely confused-- Wilmington 4, Dallas 0 and all the wretched losing around it wasn't enough to get it done, but now that there's almost no mathematical possibility of making a playoff run caused by a hypothetical bump from a new coach, Jeffries gets canned. Timing? Jeffries was losing even worse a month ago, two months ago. When the "season", such as it is, could at least hypothetically have been salvaged by a change at the top. I can only think there must've been some absurd clause in the contract that allowed this to happen that lets them pay Jeffries less. 2/3 of a season or something. Jeffries can kiss my ass--but I gotta feel for Tony Nhleko. Even fat, he wasn't as bad as I feared. Now he'll be seen as poison, a "Jeffries"-era signing and surplus to requirements. Oh well, aside from him, I can only hope we'll see a true "scorched earth policy" now--purge the lot. I hope to see Chad Deering starting for Virginia Beach this time next year.
praise Jesus! There is a God! it wouldn't make sense to bring back a lame duck coach to play out his final contract yr. he shoulda been 86'd in the locker room following last yrs playoff meltdown, IMHO. I wonder how Thomas Dooley's doing.
Thank you, John Wagner and HSG. It's good to see that the Burn put a priority on winning in addition to saving $.
Good news travels fast - NBC news (Dallas) sports just announced "The Burn just fired coach Mike Jeffries" Must have irked Newy to have to announce soccer news.
Jeffries Fired. And Jefe is drunk by now spotted hanging from the Quorum Drive, North Dallas Tollway overpass w/ legs getting treated like a piñata by on looking burn fans & a sign bearing the phrase, "no funeral" on it. I hope Clarke and the thought of being an A-leaguer scares them into putting a up a nice run.
Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead! I might just call up wagner and personally thank him for it. Could a move out of sucklake be next? Nah, lets just celebrate this for a few weeks. Hey Morrow, want a coaching job?
The dreaded vote of confidence strikes again. From the Fort Worth Star Telegram just 2 days ago: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/6762967.htm
So, what is Clarke's reputation? I've yet to meet a soft talking Ulsterman and this team could use a swift kick in the ass.
I don't really expect to see this change translate into many more wins. There has just been too much damage done to this squad at this point. My biggest hope is that we can see some evidence of improved defensive organization and performance in the next few games. That's where we have to start IMO. Good luck to Colin Clarke. Chicago coming to town against this shattered team is not the way he wanted to start his first game as head coach I'm sure. On the flip side, at least our expectations are low. Good riddance to Jeffries. Maybe he would have been all right as a caretaker coach for an already good squad, but it became more and more obvious during his tenure that his teams fold like a cheap tent under any adversity or pressure, and he has no clue how to bring them back.