A change in leadership always seems harsh in the middle of the season.
Evidently, however, Rowdies owner Bill Edwards had seen enough.
Edwards fired both coach Thomas Rongren and general manager Farrukh Quraishi Friday, just hours after a disappointing 2-0 loss to the Indy 11 and just before a scheduled game against Minnesota. The Rowdies, expected to be a playoff team, had fallen to 10th of the 11 teams in the NASL in the Fall Standings, and they were the league’s lowest-scoring team. The addition of highly regarded Freddy Adu had yet to pay dividends.
The team lacked the creativity of a true contender as of late. Rongen had often talked about the team finding its right chemistry, but the truth is that the team was better in the spring season (with one point) than it has been lately.
In the spring, Quarashi had predicted packed houses, championship banners and loud fans.
“I think it can most certainly be that way again,’’ Quraishi said. “We have to give people a reason to come to the stadium. If people want to see entertaining soccer, they’ll find it here.’’
The Rowdies had 20 new players at the time, and more since, a new coach and a new general manager, but that didn’t seem to phase Quraishi. He let it be known even then that the Rowdies had high expectations.
“The vision of (owner) Bill Edwards, of Thomas, of mine is the same,’’ Quraishi said. “We want to make this the best team in North America. I know that sounds lofty, but with the changes that are being made, we want it to be at the highest level.’’
