Firestorm in Chicago: Yallop out, Rodriguez in as GM

Mired in last place in MLS’s Eastern Conference with three straight defeats, the Chicago Fire fired head coach and director soccer Frank Yallop and assistantsMarc Bircham and Clint Mathis. In their place, the Fire has recruited NelsonRodriguez as general manager and named technical director Brian Bliss as the interim head coach and former Fire captain Logan Pause as interim assistant coach.

One of MLS’s most experienced coaches with 11 years of service at San Jose and LA Galaxy and two MLS Cup titles to his credit in hisfirst stint with the Earthquakes and a Supporters’ Shield title in his second stint with the Quakes, Yallop was brought in days after the end of the 2013 season to head up the soccer operations andserve as head coach. But Chicago finished ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 6-10-18 record in 2014 and was 7-16-6 with the worst record in MLS after Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat to Orlando City.

Yallop is only the second head to depart this season. The first was Frank Klopas, whom Yallop replaced in Chicago. Mauro Biello took over as interim coach for Klopas at Montreal.

Rodriguez, who willoversee the search for a new head coach, worked for Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing for many years, leaving as executive vice president of competition, technical and game operations inearly 2014. Soon thereafter, he was named president of Chivas USA to oversee the club for its final MLS season. After the season ended, he joined U.S. Soccer as managing director of national teamadvisory services, setting up a counseling program for young players.

“I share our fans’ frustration and, while we’ve enjoyed success off the pitch, I’m obviously not happy with theresults on it. I felt the need to make changes now in order to better position ourselves for the offseason and beyond,” said Andrew Hauptman, the Fire’s chairman and owner.  “I have tremendousconfidence about the future of this club in Nelson’s hands and am beyond thrilled to bring him to Chicago.”

This will be Bliss’ second stint as an interim coach. He took over at Columbuslate in the 2013 season following the dismissal of Robert Warzycha but was not retained following the hiring of GreggBerhalter. He was 4-4-0 in eight games before departing for the Fire. Goalkeeping coach Aron Hyde will stay on to work with Bliss and Pause. Bliss willremain technical director during this transition.