Orlando City SC fires head coach Adrian Heath

Team: Heath was with club since beginnings in Austin, Texas, in 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Soccer Club has fired head coach Adrian Heath.

The team said Heath has been with the club since its beginnings in Austin, Texas, in 2008. He relocated with the team to Orlando in 2011.

"It is always a very difficult decision to part ways with a head coach and not one that the Board of Directors has taken lightly," Orlando City founder and president Phil Rawlins said. "It is even more difficult when that coach has been instrumental in the growth of the club since its inception over eight years ago."

Rawlins said Adrian served the club with passion and enthusiasm.

"While our successes together are undoubtable, we believe the renewed energy this change will bring will be uplifting for the team," Rawlins said. "We feel that the time has come for us to move on with our future in (Major League Soccer). We continue to remain very excited about the growth of our club."

Club majority owner Flavio Augusto da Silva said this is a difficult moment, but fully supports the decision made by the board.

"I want to thank Adrian for the commitment and hard work he has given our team over the years and wish him success in his career. Now, it's time for us to turn our focus onto the rest of the season. We will do everything in our power to continue improving and giving our fans the best of us because they have been fantastic supporters," da Silva said.

The team said Heath won two USL Championships and three USL regular season titles.

Assistant head coach Mark Watson has also left the club by mutual agreement, team officials said.

The team will be led by assistant coach Bobby Murphy and Orlando City B head coach Anthony Pulis as the club searches for a new head coach, the team said.


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