April 29, 2009 MLS Toronto FC name new coach Chris Cummins (from TorontoFC.ca)
Cummins delighted by appointment
Reds Interim Head Coach ready to meet challenge
04/29/2009 01:56 PM
TorontoFC.ca
Chris Cummins was appointed as Toronto FC's new Interim Head Coach Wednesday and is ready to meet the challenge of his new position. "I'm delighted to be given the opportunity." said Cummins. "People have got faith in me and have seen what I have been able to do over the last few weeks and it is important that I continue that now. It's not a case of relaxing now I have got the job. We have to build on what we have achieved so far and stay at the top of the table. We're always looking to develop and progress."
Cummins has been promoted from the role of Assistant Coach to his first head coaching role, but has confidence in his ability to be successful. "I don't see it as a major step up because John Carver allowed me to come in here and do my job and take a lot of responsibility with the coaching. Obviously now I will have the final say on the team but I will listen to the other coaches and take their opinions on board. I will be pushing the players hard because reputations are on the line. They know the standards that I expect and it's important that they keep achieving those standards. I am quite laid back and I don't get uptight if I don't need to, but I set high standards and if things aren't right I will jump on players at the right time," explained Cummins.
Cummins previously worked in England with Watford and Luton Town before moving to Canada to join Toronto FC in May 2008. "I had a big decision to make when I decided to come over here. It was something that I wanted to do and when I got the opportunity I just saw this as being a place where things will develop. It was a massive learning curve in my first season getting used to the standard of the league and the travelling but I think I have adapted well to the league now."
Cummins' coaching career started at Watford in 1996. "I got into coaching when I was very young, probably about 21 or 22. The former England manager Graham Taylor gave me my first job. I've always been interested in coaching and I worked with a lot of decent managers throughout my time there. I just picked up as much as I could from the people I was working with and worked my way up during 13 years there before becoming of Academy Director. Then I got the chance to go to Luton Town where I was Director of Football working with the young pros and helping out with the senior team."
"I played semi-professional but had an injury when I was younger and was never good enough to play at the top level. I am quite opinionated and I used to get frustrated playing at that level and I didn't enjoy the game. That is why I decided to get into coaching and I was fortunate to get an opportunity when I was very young. People still talk about me being a young coach but I've been in the professional game now for 16 years."
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