Editorial: It’s time to move on from Vermes.

I’m having some professional writer’s block, so I tried writing something other than scientific articles to get my fingers moving last night. I‘ve written an imagined open letter to fans from SKC, something I would write if my organization was struggling. I have no relationship to Sporting Club or any affiliated entities. I don’t necessarily even fully agree with everything I wrote.

*Since I wrote this, I saw that Cauldron actually released a letter to the SKC FO. I’d have to think about how I’d respond to the Cauldron letter this afternoon.

I’d love to have other’s thoughts, critiques, or even a progressive writing round robin. Whatever. Anything to channel what is otherwise pretty bleak energy around this soccer team.

[An imagined open letter] To the Sporting KC faithful,

The 2023 has not started the way any fan of Sporting KC would have hoped. Everyone in this organization, from players to staff to owners, believes we can, and must, do better for our city and ourselves. As an organization, we are always reviewing at all aspects of our operations for ways to improve. We have listened to season ticket members and the Cauldron, we have read what is being said about us. As any organization should, we took a measured approach to evaluation, not acting rashly or without full information. Ten games into this season, it is clear to all that we are not sufficiently living up to our expectations or yours, on and off the field. This is our plan and our commitment to you.

Our organization operates on a set of values: Team First, Work Ethic, Intelligence, Pursuing Excellence Everyday. We believe strongly in our values. They provide a road map back to the high standards we hold ourselves to. We’re committed to re-energizing this organization and this soccer community in the following ways.

Team First: The heart and future of this team is in the development of the next generation of players. We recommit ourselves to investments in the academy and second team scouting and coaching. We have tremendous faith in our new Academy director, Declan Jogi, to oversee growth and recruitment both in our region and throughout the US. 

We consider the fans part of our team. Senior SKC leadership and ownership will hold monthly listening sessions with a different supporter group each month. Both sides will come with open minds and new ideas. Not every idea can be acted upon, but we recognize solutions come from a diversity of perspectives that should be heard. At the end of the season, we will invite all parties back for a review of our conversations and a discussion about next year.

Pursuing Excellence Everyday: If one looks only at league table, there is no doubt that there are legitimate questions about our pursuit of excellence. Broadly, as an organization, we have demonstrated an abiding commitment to excellence through the Compass Minerals Performance Center, our expansion of the Victory Project objectives, our support of the the World Cup bid. These achievements set us apart from other MLS clubs. And we remain fiercely proud of the winning mentality that helped us accomplish these things.

But we also know that the game day experience has lost some energy. It is no longer the premier soccer environment in the US. To address this, we will be hiring a VP of the game day experience. This person will be responsible for listening, innovating, and energizing the environment at Children’s Mercy Park. Some important traditions will remain, but we expect to also try new things, and we look forward to hearing from you. 

Our Sporting players are amazing people, on and off the field. We continue to believe that if they play for each other and you, we will see results.

Intelligence: Soccer has evolved rapidly. Sporting KC has evolved with it, as evidenced by our trophy case and our Wall. But all organizations need fresh ideas, new insights, and to critically evaluate all aspects of performance. 

We recognize the importance of a tight-knit, tenured technical staff. We also recognized the competing importance of a diversity of ideas and opinions on tactics and strategy. To directly support our on field performance we will be investing in a new position.To borrow a concept from the legal profession, we will hire a Tactical Adversarial Counsel. The new position will have access Monday post-game ‘war room’ sessions with the technical staff. Importantly, the Tactical Adversarial Counsel will answer to ownership, not the technical or sporting director. The job of this person and their analytics team, will be to challenge our sporting operations with alternative ideas, not necessarily in an adversarial manner, but with new perspectives and alternative intelligence that can only come from a diversity of opinion and information. 

Work Ethic: All of these changes must be pursued with intensity. We continue to believe that Sporting Director Peter Vermes and President Jake Reid are the right people, with the necessary vision and work ethic, to get us back to competing for trophies every year.

We understand the last two years have been frustrating. We are frustrated too. We aren’t going to overcome these challenges immediately. But together, and by keeping to who we are as an organization and a community, we believe we can return Glory to Kansas City. 

Welcome to the party, DG! Last year, I didn’t think you’d ever become a convert, and look at you now, whipping us up into a proper lather! But seriously, even though I was #PV Out all of last yea, there were times I had my doubts it was the right move. As you point out in this editorial, it’s become pretty clear that, like it or not, it has to happen.