RSL parts ways with long-time president Manning


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SANDY — When Real Salt Lake president Bill Manning's contract expired in June, he made several mentions to local media that he was confident in the way things would work out in the front office regarding the future of the club.

That future will not include him, RSL announced Tuesday.

Manning and the club have mutually agreed to part ways, and RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen announced an upcoming restructuring of the front office as the former two-time MLS executive of the year departs for other opportunities.

Manning becomes the third major RSL employee — former coach Jason Kreis and general manager Garth Lagerwey are the other two — to depart the club since team owner Dell Loy Hansen took full ownership of the club in January 2013.

"Bill has obviously done an outstanding job building this club from its infancy, and we wish him well in his future endeavors," Hansen said in a statement. "As we moved into the second decade of our existence, our growing organization requires a different structure."

The former RSL co-owner who took sole ownership of the club in January 2013 said he will meet with senior executives of the club and its subsidiaries, including USL side Real Monarchs and the youth development academy in Casa Grande, Arizona, to "address both short-term and long-term planning processes" for the organization.

Hansen said in an interview with ESPN 700 radio that Manning's role with the club has extended beyond many traditional roles of a club president, and the expansion of the organization necessitated a restructuring of the front office as the business grew from 48 employees to 120, the owner said.

"Through the years I've been here, Bill believed the contract was the one he wanted," Hansen said. "It really kept the organization a really tighter pyramid to grow the organization to a broader sports organization."


Bill has obviously done an outstanding job building this club from its infancy, and we wish him well in his future endeavors. As we moved into the second decade of our existence, our growing organization requires a different structure.

–RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen


Hansen said he will fill an interim role as club president until a new hire of various positions can occur, likely by mid-December. Former assistant coach and current technical director Craig Waibel is among the leading candidates to fill an expanded general manager-type role, Hansen said.

In the mean time, Hansen wished no ill will on Manning, and added the club is moving forward with intentions on making the MLS Cup playoffs. RSL currently sits six points behind the line with nine matches left in 2015, and will introduce former Boca Juniors forward "Burrito" Martinez at training Friday.

"We are where we are today because of Bill's leadership," Hansen added. "We have nine games left in MLS. We'll welcome one of the most talented players Real has ever contracted Thursday, and he'll be with the team Friday. We're really taking a team … and looking toward the future."

Manning joined the club in April 2008, and he presided over several noteworthy achievements both in business and level of play for the Salt Lake soccer club. His tenure included the opening of Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, construction and groundbreaking of the club's practice facility at America First Field in Sandy, an MLS Cup title in 2009, runner-up finishes to MLS Cup 2013, U.S. Open Cup 2013 and the CONCACAF Champions League in 2011.

Prior to his appointment with RSL, Manning served as vice president and general manager of the then-USL's Long Island Rough Riders, president and general manager of the then-USL A-League's Minnesota Thunder, and the president and general manager of the now-defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer's early days. He also has experience with the NBA's Houston Rockets and NFL's Philadelphia Eagles

Manning, a native of Massapequa, New York, and a University of Bridgeport alum, also integrated himself into the local community around Juan Diego High School in Draper, where his son John won last year's Class 3A state wrestling championship as a freshman 138-pounder.

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