Several news outlets are reporting that Toronto FC is courting the New England Revolution’s Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner for its head-coaching job, as Mo Johnston, the man currently occupying that post, looks set to move into TFC’s front office. Sources tell Goal.com that Johnston wanted to put Nicol, a longtime friend and former roommate with the Scottish national team, in the head coach position so Johnston could focus on soccer operations and talent acquisition.
Nicol responded to the rumors by saying that New England had exercised an option on his contract that would keep the former Liverpool player at Gillette Stadium through 2008. Mariner’s future, however, looks less certain. Both he and Houston assistant John Spencer have been linked with several vacant head-coaching positions. When asked, Nicol said he would not stand in Mariner’s way if the former England international decided to take a head-coaching offer.