Gotham FC announced that the club and former head coach Scott Parkinson agreed to part ways, effective immediately. The club has yet to name an interim head coach, per a statement issued on Twitter. Gotham next play the OL Reign in Seattle on Sunday, August 14, at 3 pm ET.
As of the publication of this post, the only official statements from the club have been issued on Twitter. The brief nature of the statements, and the absence of an interim successor, suggest that this was an unexpected decision.
Even so, the news doesn’t come as a complete surprise. A talented Gotham FC squad has consistently underperformed this year and now sits in second-to-last place with 12 points after 12 games after posting a 4-0-8 record and a league-worst goal differential of -15.
Gotham FC have been leaky in defense and toothless in attack despite a strong lineup on paper. A team that already had Caprice Dydasco, the 2021 NWSL Defensive Player of the Year, added legendary USWNT defender Ali Krieger and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris in the offseason, while a potent forward line headed by Midge Purce and Nigerian international Ifeoma Onumonu was joined by USWNT midfielder Kristie Mewis.
It didn’t click. Gotham constantly put in disappointing performances and poor results. Recently, a desperate Parkinson played defender Taylor Smith as striker after signing the 28-year-old off waivers.
Gotham are nine points off the sixth and final NWSL playoff spot with four games in hand. It’s not impossible for the Goths to make the postseason if they perform to their potential in their remaining 10 games — and if they find a new head coach who can inspire a team that have won just one of their last seven competitions.
