Richie Williams, Revs Players Talk About Ongoing Bruce Arena Investigation
Williams: “It's still a continuing investigation and whenever they decide that it comes to an end, they'll inform us. So we really don't have any comment on that.”
It’s now been 21 days since it was announced that New England Revolution head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena was placed on administrative leave and there’s still not much information out there.
According to a statement made by the Revs on Aug. 1, Arena was placed on leave “as a result of an ongoing investigation being conducted by Major League Soccer into allegations of insensitive and inappropriate remarks.”
The Athletic reported that technical director Curt Onalfo would take charge of the sporting side while assistant coach Richie Williams handled coaching duties.
On Monday, Tara Sullivan of The Boston Globe reported that “interviews with employees and players concluded last week.” A source told Sullivan that Proskauer Rose, the law firm conducting the investigation, would determine when the findings became public.
On Tuesday, The Blazing Musket asked Williams if he had an update.
“I really have no comment on it because, again, nobody has any idea what's going on,” Williams said. “It's still a continuing investigation and whenever they decide that it comes to an end, they'll inform us. So we really don't have any comment on that.”
When asked if it was strange to have an investigation going on during the season, Revs captain Carles Gil said, “Yes, but it’s the first time I’m in this type of situation so I don’t know. We’re still waiting like everyone [to see] what will happen.”
Gil was asked if he was interviewed by the investigators. He said no.
With no update regarding Arena, Revolution players and staff are focused on returning to league play. The club will travel to Canada to face CF Montreal on Saturday. It’s the Revs’ first game since being ousted from the Leagues Cup by Querétaro on Aug. 7
“Yeah, like I said, we can do nothing but train hard, think of what we can do on the pitch, and we'll see what happens,” Gil said about the Arena investigation.
Dave Romney expressed confidence in Williams serving as the team’s coach. When asked how Williams’ training sessions compare to Arena’s, the center back noted that they’re “slightly longer.”
Despite some uncertainly off the field, Williams and the Revs are keyed in on remaining at the top of the Eastern Conference.
“We’re all professionals, right?” Williams said. “So the players are pros, they know they need to get it done on the field. And we’re professional coaches. They’ve asked us to work with the team, lead the team, prepare the team for every day now in terms of training and games, and we’re going to continue to do that as long as they ask us to do that.
“And our intent is, you know, it is what it is and we just got to get on with it. We are in a really good position in the league and we’ve been playing very well throughout the season and we want to continue that.”
I trust the coaching staff. I understand that the process has to and will play out. It’s the uncertainty that I worry about affecting the locker room and the play on the field.