Chicago Fire sack head coach Frank Yallop

Frank Yallop is out in Chicago.

The club announced that Yallop’s tenure as coach of the Fire has come to an end, as the club currently sits in last place in the Eastern Conference with the fewest points in the league.

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Yallop becomes the second MLS coach to be fired this season, as Montreal sacked Frank Klopas in August. Chicago’s Technical Director Brian Bliss will take over as interim coach.

Not only is Yallop out, but so is most of his staff, as the Fire have decided to make big changes behind the bench.

Below is part of a statement released by the club earlier today:

Chicago Fire Soccer Club today announced the appointment of former MLS veteran Nelson Rodríguez as General Manager. In addition, the Club has parted ways with Head Coach and Director of Soccer Frank Yallop, as well as assistant coaches Marc Bircham and Clint Mathis, naming Technical Director Brian Bliss as the Interim Head Coach and former Fire Captain Logan Pause as Interim Assistant Coach. Rodríguez will join the Fire on October 19, all other changes are effective immediately.

Last season was Yallop’s first year in charge at the club, as Chicago missed the playoffs and finished in ninth place in the East. Things have gotten worse this year, as the Fire currently have the worst record in all of Major League Soccer.

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Many thought things would turn around for Chicago when Scottish international Shaun Maloney joined as a Designated Player in the offseason, bringing a wealth of top-level experience. However, Maloney’s tenure did not go as planned, as he left the club after just eight months to join Hull City in August.

After going to three straight Eastern Conference Finals from 2007-09, the Fire failed to reach the playoffs in four of the next five seasons.