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Vermes Out?

 Exactly two weeks ago I wrote a blog about Sporting's struggles and the path forward I felt both respected Vermes' storied history with the club and worked towards moving SKC into a modern competitive MLS club. However last night a new rock bottom was reached, and a historic rock bottom is only a couple of weeks away. 

Sporting KC lost at home to CF Montreal who are both completely rebuilding after moving on from Kei Kamara, Djordje Mihailovic, Kamal Miller and others this past offseason. They also hadn't scored a goal or gotten a single point from a road match this season. Neither of those statements are true after beating SKC 2-0 at Children's Mercy Park on Saturday night. 

If you're reading this blog you probably don't need breakdowns of match strategies, so let's talk about the important chant coming from the Cauldron: Vermes Out. From some internet research as fall as I can tell Vermes is the longest tenured manager in MLS (I know) and in major soccer between the America's and Europe. He helped mold SKC into the gold standard Legacy MLS club, and that still means something to me and I'm sure it means something to you if you care about Sporting enough to be reading this blog. So what's the best path forward?

I think ownership needs to have a very hard conversation with Vermes that starts by removing him as Sporting Director effective immediately. I think all of the technical staff at the club needs a total overhaul. The search needs to begin immediately and it needs to be a world wide search. It would be nice to find someone with the pedigree and experience of a successful European club. I'm not talking Manchester United or Real Madrid, rather someone from a smaller German or Dutch club that knows the ends and outs of how to be a successful modern day Sporting Director in the International game. Let them get established before the summer transfer window so they can make inbound and outbound transfers to set the roster for the future.

The next part of the conversation is tougher. Sporting just gave Vermes a five year contract extension so you're going to be on the hook for the money either way. I also think Vermes truly loves this club and sees it as his club. I would offer Peter a role in the business side of the club while offering him to stay on as interim manager until you can properly identify and hire a replacement. The business side role could be whatever role that gets some value of the money you owe Vermes through 2028 and softens the blow of everything. It's a VERY unconventional idea, but I think it could be the best path forward for the club. 

There is a ton of roster work that needs to be done. The primary transfer window is closed so the roster you have is what you have to work with for now. I also think it's unlikely you're going to sign anyone in the front office or a coach from Europe or in the league right now which is why it's probably best to keep Vermes in an interim role until those roles can be filled. I believe you can always be building and firing Vermes completely fills a lot of holes and without a technical staff or head coach you aren't building towards anything. You're essentially writing the season off. 

Let me know what you think! I know Vermes Out is catchy but I do think there is more to consider than just a swift firing of a club legend. 

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