New England Revolution players refuse to train and the club changes interim head coaches as fallout from the Bruce Arena scandal continues
- Clint Peay was announced as the new interim coach, replacing Richie Williams
- After consultation with the team management, the team refused to train on Tuesday
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The New England Revolution has named a new interim head coach following the resignation of longtime coach Bruce Arena, who was placed on administrative leave by Major League Soccer amid allegations of making insensitive and inappropriate comments.
Clint Peay, who coached the club’s reserve side since 2019, has been appointed interim head coach. The decision comes after Arena’s longtime assistant, Richie Williams, was originally given that title when Arena was placed on leave last month. Arena resigned on Saturday.
It is unclear whether Williams will have a lasting role with the team. However, at a press conference earlier on Tuesday, he said the club asked him to remain interim head coach until the end of the season.
But during a series of team-wide meetings on Tuesday — first with team president Brian Bilello and then with the entire coaching staff — players asked Williams to “elaborate on the extent of his involvement in the Arena investigation,” according to The Athletic.
When Williams said he couldn’t answer that question, the players didn’t take it well and decided not to practice that day.
Former New England Revolution reserve team coach Clint Peay has been named interim first-team head coach as the MLS side continues to deal with the fallout from a scandal
Bruce Arena, the team’s former head coach and sporting director, has resigned following a scandal in which he was accused of making insensitive and inappropriate comments.
Richie Williams, who had served as interim coach since Arena’s suspension, was replaced
An anonymous player told The Athletic: “Not many guys trust Richie to lead the team at the moment.”
In a press conference after that meeting, Williams said his focus was on the team and that he had to stay in his pre-arranged position.
“It was actually the first time we’ve been together since Saturday night’s game,” Williams said.
“We felt it was best to come together collectively and meet as coaches, players and management, and discuss things that needed to be discussed, and then we’ll move forward.”
It is not clear what prompted the changes.
In addition to Peay’s elevation, Marcelo Santos, an assistant on the reserve Revolution II team, was promoted to an assistant role with the MLS team.
The Revolution also said it has parted ways with Revolution assistants Dave van den Bergh and Shalrie Joseph.
The 71-year-old Arena, a member of the American National Soccer Hall of Fame, did not address the MLS’ allegations against him. The league said he went on leave on August 1.
Revolution team president Brian Bilello initially called a team meeting, but players eventually requested further meetings with more involved members of the coaching staff
MLS did not provide details of its findings, other than saying in a statement that the investigation “confirmed certain of these allegations.”
The league said that if Arena wants to accept a future position within the MLS, he must petition the commissioner.
Arena was hired by New England in May 2019 and led the team to 60 wins, 31 losses and 42 draws in MLS.
Arena, a five-time MLS Cup winner and former U.S. national team coach, succeeded Brad Friedel as coach and general manager Michael Burns.
The Revolution hosts the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.