NEW YORK – The New York Red Bulls are still without a head coach, despite reports that emerged on Wednesday indicating the club has picked former Aston Villa caretaker manager Gary McAllister as the man to replace deposed head coach Hans Backe.
A source familiar with the negotiations told MLSsoccer.com that the club has not extended an offer to McAllister (above, left), the former Scottish international who has been rumored as Backe’s replacement since the Red Bulls bowed out of the Eastern Conference semifinals in November.
The Red Bulls are not expected to make an announcement about the coaching search this week as reported, according to the source. The club had no official comment when contacted by MLSsoccer.com
RBNY have been without a coach since the Red Bulls opted not to renew Backe’s contract following his third year on the job in 2012.
McAllister emerged as a rumored contender for the job shortly after Backe's termination, partly due to his strong ties with Red Bulls head of global soccer Gerard Houllier, who managed Aston Villa with McAllister on his staff from 2010-11.
The Red Bulls have also reportedly interviewed a number of candidates with Major League Soccer ties about the open position, including former US internationals Tony Meola and Eric Wynalda, as well as former Chivas USA head coach Robin Fraser and former Montreal Impact boss Jesse Marsch.
The Red Bulls finished as the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs but lost a two-game aggregate-goal series to D.C. United, extending New York’s streak without an MLS Cup to 17 years.
