PHOTO | TROY HULL

Charlotte FC fired head coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez 14 games into the MLS expansion side’s existence.

Miguel Ángel Ramírez’s time as Charlotte FC coach lasted barely a third of the expansion club’s first season.

Ramírez was canned Tuesday after 14 games and a 5-8-1 record without much information on what led to his firing. Aside from a press release announcing the decision, the team shed little light on why he was sent packing. Sporting director Zoran Krneta and club president Joe LaBue told Ramírez he was sacked. Assistant coach Christian Lattanzio was named interim coach for the remainder of the season.

“This is a difficult decision, but one we feel is best for the team at this time,” owner David Tepper said in a statement. “I want to thank Miguel and his staff for their hard work during our first season and wish them the best in their future endeavors.”

Beside Ramírez, assistant coach Mikel Antía, fitness coach Cristobal Fuentes Nieto, and first team video analyst Luis Piedrahita were also fired. Goalkeeper Coach Andy Quy will remain.

“We appreciate the contributions of Miguel and his staff to our club, and wish them well moving forward in their careers,” Krneta said. “We are excited about this opportunity for Christian. He is a very experienced coach who has made a tremendous impact on our squad this season.”

Lattanzio, who was an assistant with the English national team with Fabio Capello, joined the club last summer as an assistant coach. He was previously an assistant coach at OGC Nice, New York City FC and Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad under current Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira.

Krneta, who insisted he and Ramírez “had a very good relationship, working relationship and we've constantly been in touch,” deflected questions from reporters about what led to the decision to fire Ramírez as well as the timing given that Charlotte is eighth in the MLS Eastern Conference, two points out of the final playoff spot.

"It was a difficult decision,” Krneta said. “It was not a decision taken lightly and we had to take into consideration many things, many factors. At the end of the day, the senior leadership of this club decided that this is the best way forward."

When asked whether the move reflects poorly on the organization, Krneta denied it. Although Ramírez was popular among fans for his openness, Krneta said the move will ultimately be appreciated by critics despite the club’s tight-lipped response.

“This decision has nothing to do with the fans,” he said. “This decision has to do with making this club bigger and better and more effective on and off the pitch. This is something that every fan would want us to do anyway, to be better. So this is why we made this decision.”

Before you go:

Charlotte FC falls against Seattle, but stays in the hunt for a playoff spot

‘The table never lies:’ Charlotte FC sporting chief assesses development

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