The New England Revolution have announced they have parted ways with head coach Jay Heaps with assistant Tom Soehn taking over for the remainder of the season.
Goal reported Monday the Revolution had made the decision after a pair of heavy defeats had left the club’s playoff chances in dismal shape.
“Jay has done a great deal for the club over the years and had considerable achievements,” Revolution general manager Michael Burns said in a statement. "I have great respect for him and wish him well in the next steps of his career.
“This decision has not been taken lightly, however, we need to do better than the results have shown from the last couple of seasons and this season left us convinced we need to go in a different direction.”
The Revolution currently sit on 35 points, seven points back from the New York Red Bulls for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
New England has not won on the road all season, losing 12 of 15 contests and earning three draws.
While a brief two-game win streak had gotten the team back toward playoff contention, its last two contests saw a 7-0 battering at the hands of Atlanta United after the Revolution were reduced to nine men, and a 3-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City.
Heaps took over for Steve Nicol after the 2011 season. He managed three playoff appearances in his tenure, including a trip to the 2014 MLS Cup final, though the Revolution lost 2-1 to the LA Galaxy in extra time.
Statement from #NERevs Ownership https://t.co/2e3YZnPM3w
— NewEnglandRevolution (@NERevolution) September 19, 2017
Heaps also led the team to the 2016 U.S. Open Cup final, though they were defeated by FC Dallas.
However, the Revolution had struggled over the past two seasons. The team missed the playoffs due to tie-breakers in 2016 and appears headed for another postseason absence this season.
Overall Heaps compiled a 75-81-43 record in the regular season for New England and was 4-3-1 in the postseason.
In addition to coaching the Revolution, Heaps also featured for the club as a player between 2001 and 2009.
Heaps is the fifth MLS head coach to be let go this season, following Jeff Cassar (Real Salt Lake), Dominic Kinnear (San Jose Earthquakes), Curt Onalfo (LA Galaxy) and Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids).
Soehn and the Revolution face Toronto FC on Saturday.