USA chief to talk with Bradley over future
Reuters - Monday 28 June 2010, 11:03
JOHANNESBURG - United States Soccer
Federation president Sunil Gulati will meet with coach Bob
Bradley to discuss his future with the national team following
their second round exit but all the signs point to a likely
parting of the ways.
Bradley, whose contract expires in December, was
non-committal on Sunday when asked if he wanted to stay in
charge for another four years and Gulati also notably did not
say he wanted the coach to stay on.
"We will sit down and talk. If we were carrying a trophy
home it would be easy but it is not that situation," Gulati told
reporters, adding that he thought Bradley "has done a very good
job".
But the U.S Soccer chief said he was not aware if Bradley
actually wanted to continue in the role.
"He may want a different challenge - I don't know," said
Gulati, who was confident that the job would be an attractive
one if it became vacant.
However Gulati, who did not rule out a future move for a
foreign coach, said there would be no discussions with potential
replacements before a decision was made over Bradley.
"It is not my plan to talk with people before we talk to Bob - that is the appropriate way," he said.
"Bob is our coach and he is our coach through to the end of
the year," he said, before adding that "I am not saying that I
will wait six months to make a decision".
"I've known Bob for a very long time and I have a lot of
faith in him, I think the world of him at a personal level and
we will make the right decision for the sport - it won't be
about the personal level for either me or him," he said.
"It is not going to be a snap decision, I want to hear his
thoughts about how things went. I have got some questions..about
decisions that he made along the way. I am sure he is going to
want to know about some of my reactions," he said.
Clearly pleased with the boost the World Cup had given to football in the United States, Gulati was less enthusiastic about
the results gained by Bradley's team.
"Mixed results is the best way to put it and very much mixed
emotions.
"I think we helped re-establish the position of the team
after the last World Cup..on that front mission accomplished.
"But I think everyone associated with the programme, from
the players to Bob to those of us involved in the administration
feel that it was an opportunity missed," he said, referring to
the second round loss to Ghana.
Gulati also confirmed that he and Bradley had held
"exploratory talks" with England manager Fabio Capello about
taking on a role with the Federation, over two years ago, before
the Italian decided to take up the job with England.
Follow FFT.com on Twitter
Join FFT.com on Facebook