Former Northern Ireland midfielder Jim Magilton says he's leaving the Melbourne Victory after being appointed the interim coach for the A-League side in January and having little success since.
Magilton replaced the fired Mehmet Durakovic but could only manage two wins in 12 matches as the Victory slumped to eighth place, well out of playoff contention. He had said he was keen to be given a longer-term contract, but the team decided to open the coaching job to outside prospects.
Victory managing director Richard Wilson said Sunday that when Magilton was told he was just one of several candidates on a short list, he declined to take part in the selection process.
Magilton managed English Championship side Ipswich Town for three years and had been an assistant at Irish club Shamrock Rovers. He was reported to have been shortlisted for the Northern Ireland manager's job that went to Michael O'Neill just before Magilton took the Australian job.
Starting his playing career with Liverpool, where he remained until 1990, he later played for Oxford United, Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town. He scored five goals in 52 internationals for Northern Ireland.
