Tampa Bay Rowdies Release Head Coach Paul Dalglish
In an abrupt move on Thursday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Rowdies released first year coach Paul Dalglish.
The Scottish-born Dalglish was well liked in the Tampa area but his team had played poorly down the stretch. The Rowdies started the season off well with a 5-1-3 record but then slumped and only won 1 game since that time. The team’s current record is 6-11-11 and they are 0-4-6 in their last 10 games.
“I think we have the players and resources we needed to build a successful club,” Rowdies owner Andrew Nestor said. “I believe making the playoffs this year was a reasonable goal.”
According to the St. Petersburg Times, Rowdies owner Andrew Nestor said the parting was mutual. However, from Twitter messages left by Dalglish on Thursday that clearly was not the case.
Dalglish, son of famous Liverpool player Kenny Dalglish, evidently hadn’t seen this coming. On Thursday morning he posted a message on Twitter that said: “Everybody at the club is obviously very disappointed not to make the playoffs but the positives are we have developed very good young players for the future, we have all learned the league, and we are all a year older and more experienced. The Rowdies have great tradition which demands success. Next year i personally guarantee a playoff team. If no playoff team next year, i am to blame, nobody else!”
Then just four hours later he tweeted: “I am no longer the Head coach of the Rowdies. Don’t really want to say to much at the moment but i would like to thank all the players for their tremendous efforts this season. The Rowdies have great young players who have an exciting future ahead of them, and will only be better for their experience this year. I also want to thank the staff for all their help and support. Finally i would like to thank the ownership group for giving me the chance to be the head coach. Things never worked out but i believe i have left the next coach that comes in a solid foundation to build on to become a great team that the Rowdies tradition deserves. Good luck in the future Rowdies.”
Perry Van Der Beck, who is the Rowdies’ vice president, technical director and director of player development, will finish the season as interim coach. The Rowdies have two remaining games this year, both at home. They play the NSC Stars tonight, then play Crystal Palace Baltimore on Oct. 1. Both games will be played at Steinbrenner Field.
Comments are closed.
Somewhat shocking, really…
Most of us wouldve given him another year, but FCTB did experience an epic collapse this season. Considering that we were 5-1-3 heading into June, but then only won 1 more game since then, perhaps a change was needed?
For a guy who didn’t want to say much, he sure had a lot to say.
Being an expansion team is hard – look at the Aztex last year. I’d have given him more time, personally, unless he had just totally lost the dressing room to the point where they were complaining to management.
I made the exact same point Chase. I am hearing that the Rowdies spent a ton of money this season and it may have been a way to lighten the load as well.