York United FC’s president and general manager Ricardo Pasquel spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon in the wake of head coach Martin Nash’s firing on Tuesday, and he addressed a number of key questions around the situation to shed some light on the club’s future.

After six games of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season — Pasquel’s first at the helm since he and his brothers, as part of Game Plan Sports Group, took over the club in late 2023 — he chose to take action, and provided some of his thinking behind the move.

He opened by thanking Nash and his wife, particularly for their impact on the club off the pitch, explaining that this was exclusively a football-related move.

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“It’s no secret that at the beginning, back in December at [our first] press conference, we said that this team had a vision of going forward, and it includes how we see the footballing perspective, on and off the field,” Pasquel said.

“I think [Nash] represented exactly what we wanted off the field, but on the field we just have a different perspective of seeing the game. I think the timing right now is correct because we have 20 or so more weeks to go in the CPL. I’m sure with the new head coach, we’re going to compete for the championship.”

After Nash’s departure, assistant coach Mauro Eustáquio has been appointed to serve as interim head coach, beginning with this Friday night’s game against Halifax Wanderers FC.

Pasquel asserted that Eustáquio and goalkeeping coach Camilo Benzi remain key parts of the team, adding that he sees them as people he hopes continue to grow within the organization “for years to come.”

However, significant work has already been done toward appointing a new permanent head coach, with Pasquel revealing the club has spoken to multiple candidates, including some from the local area, as well as several based in the United States and Mexico.

He hinted that Eustáquio will likely be in charge until after York’s June 1 match against Forge FC, after which he anticipates being able to announce the new manager.

According to Pasquel, the incoming head coach will be chosen primarily for his footballing philosophy.

“We’re looking for a team that plays with the ball on the ground, plays quickly and plays smart,” Pasquel said. “We want a smart team on the pitch, and that’s something that’s easy to say but it’s pretty hard to implement. With the search for the new head coach we want somebody whose teams previously have played a very good brand of football, attractive football that the crowd likes. It’s not going to be easy, it’s going to be a challenge, but with the current roster we have the potential to accomplish that.”

However, Pasquel also insisted that the club’s next manager will share some character similarities with Nash, in going about his work off the pitch away from the tactical side of things.

“We’re looking for a leader that represents what we want on and off the field,” he said. “Off the field, it’s not about the style of play, it’s about managing and working with each player specifically, identifying their strengths and weaknesses.”

York United currently sit fifth in the CPL standings after six games, having drawn 2-2 with Cavalry FC last Saturday. They’ll return home to York Lions Stadium on Friday night, where Eustáquio will command the technical area for the first time against Halifax Wanderers FC (7 p.m. ET).