Earthquakes dump Yallop as coach

Frank Yallop, an English-born Canadian who spent 13 seasons playing for England’s Ipswich Town, was dumped Friday as manager of Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes.

Yallop had guided the Earthquakes to the best regular-season record in MLS last season but San Jose lost to eventual playoff champion Los Angeles in the Western Conference semi-finals and has struggled this year with a 3-6-6 record.

Earthquakes assistant coach Mark Watson will take charge of the team for the remainder of the season on an interim basis.

“Mark Watson is an excellent coach and the team is in very good hands,” Yallop said.

Yallop, 49, guided the Earthquakes to MLS titles in 2001 and 2003 during his first stint as coach, returning to guide San Jose for a second run as coach starting in 2008.

He played for Ipswich from 1983 through 1996 before jumping to MLS for his final three seasons as a player.