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Report: Whitecaps part ways with Rennie

MartinRennie (ISIPhotos.com)

By FRANCO PANIZO

The Martin Rennie era in Vancouver has reportedly come to an end.

Rennie has been let go by the Whitecaps after failing to lead the club to a playoff spot this season, according to reports out of Vancouver. Speculation over Rennie’s future with the club had lingered throughout much of the recently-concluded campaign, but a seventh-placed finish in the Western Conference this year seems to have sealed his fate despite the impressive goal-scoring total the Whitecaps had.

In his two years in charge in Vancouver, the 38-year-old Rennie amassed a 24-25-19 record, reached the 2012 postseason and won the 2013 Cascadia Cup. None of that was apparently enough to have him keep his job, however, as he also failed to win the Canadian Championship the last two seasons.

Questions about his development of younger players like Kekuta Manneh and Russel Teibert also came into question this year.

The 38-year-old Scotsman had previously been reported on being on a two-year deal that would be extended to a third if he had playoff or Canadian Championship success, but Rennie denied those reports earlier in the season.

The Whitecaps join FC Dallas as MLS clubs currently without a head coach, but there have been persisting rumors that former San Jose Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop is in line to replace Rennie in Vancouver.

Yallop has been out of a job since leaving the Earthquakes post earlier in the year.

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What do you think of the Whitecaps reportedly firing Rennie? Surprised? Would Yallop be a good signing next head coach?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Rennie is a good coach. I understand the Caps frustrations with not making the post season, especially with so much attacking talent on the roster, but Rennie did a good job in the drafts and in player acquisition. The next coach will just have to work on defense to build a playoff team. On the other hand, if the next coach starts trading attacking talent, it will be a bonanza for the rest of the league. I’m confident Rennie will land on his feet somewhere in MLS soon and do a good job of building and coaching his next team.

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  2. An affable guy. He dealt with a lot of injuries — Jay DeMerit, Andy O’Brien and Kenny Miller missed significant time with the team. Those are three guys who provide a lot of leadership and the team really is better with either Miller or DeMerit on the field. Too bad they were only on the field together for about 20 minutes all season. Tough situation. My concern isn’t about his skill as a coach, but there was a least one senior player who alluded to the tinkering was causing strife– i.e. a Reo Coker interview where Reo mentioned that it was hard to deal with all the line up shuffling.

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  3. The man had some fantastic years leading the Carolina Railhawks. Sad to see him let go. Constantly tinkering with the lineup and the injuries to Jay Demerit hurt his cause. Hope he is given another shot at an MLS club soon. Would love to see him in D.C.

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  4. Lenarduzzi was always the one calling the shots behind the scenes in Vancouver. Any coach that comes in will never have full control of the team. And Lenarduzzi isn’t going anywhere soon as his entire family is entrenched and invested in the club.

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