NEW YORK – D.C. United President and CEO Kevin Payne has confirmed thatcurrent DC interim manager Ben Olsen will not be a candidate for the head-coaching job in 2011.
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In a wide-ranging interview with the Washington Examiner,Payne says that the club has already begun to interview other prospective head coaches but that he believes Olsen needs more experience.
"Ben is not a candidate,” Payne told the Examiner. “Benwill have his opportunity at some point, but I really want him to have hischance to be very, very successful when he starts. … It’s not in any way areflection on Ben."
Olsen assumed the interim tag on Aug. 4 after United firedfirst-year manager Curt Onalfo. Since taking on the position, Olsen hascompiled a 3-7-1 record and managed the team in a US Open Cup semifinal defeat to the Columbus Crew.
Payne is consistent with what he said back in the summerwhen he assigned Olsen the task of taking on the job.
"This is not an audition for the head-coaching job,”Payne told TheWashington Post in August. “I really want him to have the opportunityto be fully prepared when he does someday become our head coach, which I fullyexpect he will be someday. … Ben has a lot to learn yet.”
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