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TORONTO — Toronto FC head coach Mo Johnston is looking for a coach and announcements will be made soon but he said Thursday that it does not mean that he will be leaving the sidelines just yet.
His assistant coach in TFC's first Major League Soccer season was Bob Gansler, 66, who has left the team to spend more time with his wife, Nancy, four sons, and six grandchildren. "He liked it here," Johnston said.
When Johnston was asked if the new hiring would mean that he would no longer be on the sideline, he said: "Not at all, I'll be on the sideline."
Johnston is referred to as head coach but really is the manager because he is also involved in soccer operations and acquiring players.
The new coach he said "will be highly regarded in soccer, something like Bob only with a different background."
Johnston played Gansler in Kansas City when the team won the MLS Cup in 2000. Gansler also has coached the U.S. national team.
Johnston said that the new coach "will be doing a lot of the coaching with the team, a lot more responsibility will go to him."
Teams in Europe, for instance, have a manager and two coaches.
There has been speculation was that after a new coach is hired Johnston would move upstairs to a strictly front office-type position.
"We're positioning ourselves with a lot of moves," Johnston said. "Eventually, who knows that may happen, it may not. We're looking at making this whole thing better."
He said that he has talked to "numerous people."
Names mentioned in rumours have included Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner, who are head coach and assistant coach respectively of the New England Revolution but they are under contract.
Mariner's name has come up in speculation about a couple of vacant MLS head coaching positions and lately has popped up in connection with TFC. "Not even close," Johnston said.
