After a change in ownership and a midseason coaching change, there is plenty of uncertainty in the front office of the Columbus Crew as the 2013 season comes to a close. But on Tuesday, Interim Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Bliss confirmed that he wants to be with the club in 2014, regardless of the Head Coach title.
In day-to-day operations, Bliss continues to occupy his technical director role, and spent the team's bye week in Costa Rica scouting players. Despite the fact that his position remains uncertain, Bliss said his focus is still with the future of the club while he looks for potential signings.
“The progress of the wheel can't stop. Whether I'm here or somebody else is here, at the end of the day you're trying to make decisions on the best interests of the club,” he said. “Whether I'm on as the technical director or the coach or neither, I still think you've got to keep working as if you're going to be there.”
Last week, South American reports claimed that the club had signed Costa Rican fullback Wylon Francis, but team officials confirmed that no signing had been made, and that the Crew were just one of several MLS clubs following the player.
“He's a guy we tried to get last year at this time and we weren't able to get it done because of the club and where he was with his contract status,” Bliss confirmed at practice. “He's another guy we've been tracking and keeping tabs on, but there are also some other guys too that we like, some in CONCACAF and some in South America as well.”
Bliss declined to elaborate on those players, and said that he did not want to reveal who the club might be scouting.
“I don't think it serves any purpose,” he said. “We track guys over the course of the year, and we have conversations with other guys. But when you go out of the country, it doesn't make sense to go and look at one guy. You go and look at three or four guys to make use of your trip and the resources you have.”
At Crew training the day after his return to Columbus, Bliss told media that he, owner Anthony Precourt and General Manager Mark McCullers had had “private conversations,” and that outcomes ranging from Bliss keeping both the head coaching job and technical director position to Bliss having neither position at the end of 2013 had been discussed.
“All of those things were approached and I've told them before that I enjoy working at the club, and want to be here, regardless of the decision they make on the coaching side,” he said. “I still think I've got a lot to offer on the technical director side, so if they go with somebody else, I told them I still wanted to stay on. But that's going to be their choice moving forward.”
Bliss confirmed that, despite his openness toward the head coaching job and comments in his introductory press conference that indicated he was ready to lead a team, he does not plan to seek out another head coaching job in the offseason if he still has a position with the Crew.
“I like doing what I do. I enjoy that work,” he said. “I still think I have more to offer on the coaching side, and can make more of an impact on the coaching side plus recommending players and scouting. But if [another coach is hired], I still think I can still help the club as I've done in the past with signings and recommending players.”
