John Guppy said the Fire organization needs to look itself in the mirror and be honest with what it sees.
For Guppy, the team’s general manager, this meant firing the team’s longtime head coach.
The Fire parted ways with Dave Sarachan on Wednesday after the team went 1-6-1 in its last eight games.
Assistant coach Denis Hamlett will take over while the Fire considers candidates, including Hamlett.
According to Guppy, the team hopes to name a permanent head coach before Mexican star Cuauhtemoc Blanco arrives in July.
“I felt the team needed new energy and new direction,” Guppy said.
Sarachan became the Fire’s second head coach in November 2002 and led the team to U.S. Open Cup titles in 2003 and 2006.
The team struggled this season partly because of injuries and key players leaving for their national teams.
“It was a surprise to me,” Sarachan said.
“There was no indication leading up to it. Of course I wanted more time. I built this roster.”
Like Sarachan, Fire captain Chris Armas was surprised. During the team’s news conference Wednesday, he made it clear he disagreed with Guppy’s decision.
“I don’t think this was a fair time to assess [Sarachan],” Armas said. “Why even re-sign him at the end of [last] year in the first place? He should have been given the year to get things back on track.
“We have injuries and guys at the national team camp. Our core group has been gone.”
But Sarachan had his detractors. A handful of players complained behind the scenes that Sarachan needed to take a more authoritative role with the team.
Sarachan is confident he will bounce back.
“I’m an Ivy League graduate and coached in the World Cup [as an assistant],” he said. “I’ll find work in the next few months. I have too good of a resume not to find something.”
Hamlett, who has been an assistant with the Fire for 10 seasons, will coach his first game when the Fire takes on Cracovia Krakow in an exhibition Friday night at Toyota Park.
———-
larroyave@tribune.com
