Will Martin Rennie carry on as head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps? Or is the club set to move in a different direction? To listen to Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi tell it, the Scotsman's position is at the very least up for discussion.
“With the season concluding on Sunday, that's an area, much like other areas, including players, that we'll need to determine which way we go,” Lenarduzzi told Vancouver radio station TEAM 1040 on Tuesday afternoon. “It's been an ongoing assessment as the season's gone on. We'll take this time in between now and next week to discuss the coaching situation internally and more than likely have a decision sometime early next week.”
When asked whether he deserves an element of the blame for the club missing the postseason, for his part in assembling the roster, Lenarduzzi suggested the group was very much Rennie's squad and there was no interference or meddling from above.
“One of the things that we have done as a club, is it's been a collaborative approach from the point of view of decisions that we make from staffing the coaching side to player personnel,” Lenarduzzi said. “The one thing that we also have been clear on is that we never make player personnel decisions.
“That's ... largely Martin Rennie, the coach, and the coaching staff. Everyone's responsible, but ultimately in terms of the players we've had available to us this year, at least that we've signed, they've always been with the final call resting with Martin.”
As for how the 2013 Whitecaps compared with the side that qualified for the playoffs last year, the club's head honcho was typically frank in his assessment.
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“I would say that we were stagnant,” Lenarduzzi said. “The competition in the division – it's clear for everyone to see – other clubs upgraded, as did we, but just not enough. Too many points dropped at key times.
“I would say that we probably maintained where we were, but most people would view it as having regressed because we haven't made the playoffs.”
Martin MacMahon covers the Vancouver Whitecaps for MLSsoccer.com.
