TORONTO – Toronto FC head coach Paul Mariner will be away from the team this week following the death of his father in England on Tuesday morning.
Mariner learned on Friday that his father’s condition had taken a turn for the worse, and he left for England following Saturday afternoon’s 1-0 loss to D.C. United at BMO Field so that he could be at his father’s side.
The 59-year-old former England international is not expected to be back with the club until early next week.
Because of the league’s international break, Toronto’s next game is not until Oct. 20 against the Montreal Impact at BMO Field.
During Mariner’s absence, assistant coach Jason Bent is expected to run training sessions for TFC players not on international duty this week. Practices will resume on Thursday at the club’s training center at Downsview Park.
Mariner took over as head coach from Aron Winter on June 7, when the team’s record was 1-9-0. Toronto are 5-20-7 with two league games remaining and are eliminated from playoff contention.
