Toronto FC is undergoing more changes – not just on the field but behind the scenes, too.
The Major League Soccer franchise has parted ways with Stuart Neely, who served as the club’s youth academy director.
Although the move was announced Monday, Neely handed in his resignation last week, a source close to the situation told sportsnet.ca. The source also said that Neely’s decision to quit caught TFC management by surprise.
Earl Cochrane will take over on an interim basis.
“We are disappointed to learn of Stuart’s resignation. He has contributed a great deal to our Academy program,” TFC coach Aron Winter said in a news release.
“Under Stuart’s watch, six players have joined the first team and he deserves a lot of credit for this accomplishment. On behalf of everyone at Toronto FC, I’d like to thank Stuart for his countless contributions and wish him well in his future endeavours.”
Neely joined the Reds in 2008 after spending several years with the Canadian Soccer Association as its technical programs manager.
Neely coached the Reds’ youth teams since the launch of the academy in 2008. He became academy director in 2010 following the promotion of Cochrane, currently the team’s director of team and player operation.
Under Neely’s tenure as director, defender Ashtone Morgan graduated to TFC’s senior side and impressed during his rookie campaign in 2011 – so much so that he became the first product of the TFC youth academy to be called up to Canada’s national team.
Neely’s departure comes on the heels of the club trading for defender Jeremy Hall and waiving seven players after the expansion draft.