Former Town defender Frank Yallop has left his position as head coach at MLS side the San Jose Earthquakes by mutual consent. The Quakes have had a poor start to the season, winning only three of their first 15 games.
The 49-year-old, who was in his second spell with San Jose, says he spoke with the club’s management and they decided on a parting of the ways after nearly six years, with his assistant taking over as interim head coach: "[Team president] Dave [Kaval], [general manager] John [Doyle] and I met earlier this week and we mutually agreed that it was time for the club and me to move in different directions.
"[Assistant coach] Mark Watson is an excellent coach and the team is in very good hands. I want to thank the entire Earthquakes organisation for my time here. I want to thank the players and coaching staff that have been here over the past five and a half years.”
General manager Doyle added: "I want to personally thank Frank for all of his efforts since 2007 to help make this club successful.
"He guided this team from an expansion side in 2008 to just one goal away from getting to the MLS Cup final in 2010 and a Supporters’ Shield [awarded for the most points during the regular season] last year.
"I have enjoyed working with Frank over the past five and a half years and wish him well in all his future endeavours.”
In total Yallop, who played for the Blues between 1983 and 1996, has spent more than eight years with the Earthquakes during his two spells. During his first stint between 2001 and 2003 they won two MLS Cups.
After his return in late 2007, the Quakes made the play-offs in 2010 and 2012, in addition to last year’s Supporters’ Shield.
Yallop, who has also been head coach at the LA Galaxy and of the Canadian national side, was named the MLS Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2012.
Meanwhile, several of today’s newspapers report that Sunderland are willing to sell former Blue Connor Wickham.
Town negotiated a sell-on clause when the 20-year-old moved to Wearside for an initial £8.1 million in the summer of 2011 but that would only apply if the Black Cats make a profit if and when they move the England U21 striker on, which currently looks unlikely.