[MLS SPOTLIGHT] First, the Philadelphia Union parted ways with Peter Nowak, its head coach since its launch in 2010. Now, John Hackworth, who replaced Nowak, has fired the club's head of scouting and player development Diego Gutierrez and youth technical director Alecko Eskandarian.

Gutierrez, who had played with Nowak at Chicago in MLS, had been with the Union since 2010 and was responsible for the influx of players from Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.

Eskandarian, whose MLS career was cut short by a series of concussions, had been with the Union since 2011.

“The bottom line is they are not with the Philadelphia Union anymore,” said Hackworth. “It was my decision, and I really don’t want to go into the details of it. I have an immense amount of respect for both individuals. We’re going to move forward with our club and try to sort out roles and responsibilities of our staff.”

The move to get rid of Gutierrez comes less than a week after he finished a deal to bring Mali-born Bakary Soumare back to MLS.

The Union made the MLS playoffs last year in its second season but ranks 18th out of 19 teams this season with just three wins in 14 games.