The New England Revolution announced a second coaching change since the departure of Bruce Arena, confirming Clint Peay as interim head coach.
He formally takes over the senior team after leading MLS NEXT Pro side Revolution II, though Peay joined in late July. The move comes amid reports that Revolution players refused to train under previous interim manager Richie Williams, given the lack of clarity in the aftermath of Arena’s sudden exit.
The longtime manager resigned following the conclusion of an MLS investigation into allegations he made insensitive and inappropriate remarks.
“As a result of the investigation, which confirmed certain of these allegations, should Arena wish to pursue future employment within MLS, he must first submit a petition to the Commissioner,” MLS said in a release.
“MLS is committed to safe and welcoming work environments and expects all employees of the League and its clubs to conduct themselves appropriately in the workplace.”
Though originally placed on administrative leave in late July, he concretized the departure on September 9.
“In my time with the Revolution, we have had much success and it truly has been a direct reflection of all the support the organization has provided me. In particular, I also want to thank all the players, coaches and staff at the Revolution as everyone has provided outstanding service and done a terrific job to help elevate the club to where it is today,” said Arena in his resignation.
“I also want to thank everyone in the soccer community at large for their tremendous support during the past six weeks. The investigation has been a hard and difficult process, for me and my family, but hearing from so many who have been part of my career truly has been gratifying and has helped make this decision easier.
“Finally, I know that I have made some mistakes and moving forward, I plan to spend some time reflecting on this situation and taking corrective steps to address what has transpired. “And while this has not been an easy decision, I am confident that it is in the best interest of both the New England Revolution organization and my family that we part ways at this time.”
The club also parted ways with assistant coaches Dave van den Bergh and Shalrie Joseph, paving the way for Revolution II assistant coach Marcelo Santos to instead serve on Peay’s staff as a first-team assistant.
Peay steps in after four years with the Revolution II, guiding the team to secure a slot in the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs with the league’s third-best record of 14W-5L-8D.
The senior team currently sit in second on the Eastern conference table with 48 points in 27 games. With only seven games left to be played in the 2023 regular season, the team is a shoe in for playoffs.
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