St Louis City parts company with coach Bradley Carnell

St Louis City has announced the departure of head coach Bradley Carnell following Sunday's 4-3 defeat at the hands of Vancouver Whitecaps.

That defeat was the club's seventh of the season and leaves them 12th in the MLS Western Conference after 20 matches this season.

Technical Director John Hackworth will now take charge of the first-team on an interim basis while the club searches for Carnell's successor.

“Given Bradley’s many contributions to the club, this was not an easy decision,” Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel told the club's official website.

“Unfortunately, based on our Year 2 results to date, we believe a coaching change is in the best interest of the club as we regroup and look to improve both our performance and our results.”

Carnell was City's first ever manager when he was hired in January 2022, and the club became the first expansion team to win a conference regular-season title when they finished top of the Western Conference during his first season at the helm.

That achievement earned him a nomination for MLS Coach of the Year last season, but wins have been harder to come by this term, and the 47-year-old South African leaves with the club sitting 26th in the Supporter Shield standings.