Stung by a disappointing season that left the team out of the MLS playoffs for the first time since 2002, D.C. United's owners are going to get more hands-on.
Owners Victor MacFarlane and Will Chang announced Friday a reorganization of the executive management of the club. The two will assume the titles of co-executive chairmen and will make all top-level decisions.
"At D.C. United, we set the bar very high, and this year we did not achieve many of our objectives on and off the field," MacFarlane and Chang said in the letter addressed to the team's fans. "By reorganizing and reinvigorating the organization at the executive level, we further commit to our mission of winning championships and serving the community."
Team president Kevin Payne, general manager Dave Kasper and coach Tom Soehn will keep their jobs because of their past performance and the owners' "belief in these individuals," MacFarlane and Chang said in the letter.
However, the owners added: "Another repeat of (this) year's performance on the pitch is not an acceptable outcome. And we don't expect it again."
United went 11-15-4 this year, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference despite a massive investment in new talent.
