TORONTO -- The shockwaves from Toronto FC's humiliating post-season exit continued Tuesday as the team's top executives acknowledged the franchise needs a major defensive upgrade.

A first-ever playoff appearance quickly turned into a post-season flop as Toronto was thumped 3-0 last Thursday by the Montreal Impact.

New team president Bill Manning watched the debacle at chilly Saputo Stadium with Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of owner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.

"I was embarrassed," said Manning, who has been on the job for all of two weeks. "I was embarrassed as a president and a CEO . . . It's not something that's acceptable for me in terms of going forward."

GM Tim Bezbatchenko echoed his new boss.

"We laid an egg," he said.

"When we got to the game, we didn't show up .... I'm embarrassed for myself, I'm embarrassed for the team. I think all the players and the coaches are. And I think the ownership is as well," he added.

Captain Michael Bradley, still upset over the loss, said the team must use its frustration and anger to move forward.

"Nobody's happy with going out in the first round of the playoffs," he said. "Not even close.

"It leaves a bad taste in your mouth and that's not something that's going away any time quickly."

There were positives, none more so than a potent offence built around Italian Sebastian Giovinco, who led the league in scoring.

But franchise single-season records for wins (15), home victories (11), points (49) and goals scored (58) -- admittedly modest marks given the team's lacklustre history -- were forgotten in the wake of the playoff collapse.

While improving a porous defence was the theme of the day, no one seemed to have an explanation for why Toronto failed to answer the bell in Montreal. Bezbatchenko said the debrief was not yet complete.

Manning said coach Greg Vanney will return but with expectations of an improved product. Toronto (15-15-4, 49 points) was sixth in the Eastern Conference this season and has yet to finish above. 500 in nine years in Major League Soccer.

"I think Greg deserves the opportunity to continue what they've started here," said Manning, who nevertheless acknowledged he had thought hard about the coaching position.

The top priority is fixing a defence that leaked 58 goals this season.

"Goals change games and we gave away too many goals," said Vanney.

Manning says the objective next season is to concede no more than 45 goals while collecting 50-plus points.

The defence has been the elephant in the TFC room all year. Losing veteran centre-back Steven Caldwell to a career-ending injury and fullback Mark Bloom to a season-ending injury early in the year did not help the cause but Toronto never found replacements.

"I always try not to make excuses, especially end of season," said left fullback Justin Morrow, who somewhat worryingly proved to be the team's best option at right fullback. "But when I look back on it, it always felt like we were trying to plug a hole somewhere."

Morrow, Caldwell, Ashtone Morgan, Damien Perquis, Ahmed Kantari, Josh Williams, Nick Hagglund, Eriq Zavaleta, Daniel Lovitz, Marky Delgado and Brazil's Jackson all saw action on the backline.

Chris Konopka replaced the injured Joe Bendik in goal. Judging from Bezbatchenko, reinforcement 'keepers may be coming.

"We weren't good defensively and goalkeepers are part of that," he said. "Maybe they're the most important piece."

Vanney admitted his full year at the helm was a learning experience. He may have overcomplicated things with ever-changing formations.

Striker Jozy Altidore said the goal has to be to settle on one style of play.

"We definitely need to find whatever it is we're going to play and stick with it," he said.

Leadership is also an issue although players spoke out in support of Bradley, saying he leads by example and that no one works harder for the TFC cause.

Manning said the team appeared "a little bit overwhelmed" in Montreal. Vanney said players need to step up and complement Bradley.

"Michael is our captain but it takes a lot of guys to lead a team," said Vanney.

Bezbatchenko and Manning took solace from the team's core, starting with designated players Bradley, Giovinco and Altidore. Giovinco scored 22 goals and Altidore added 13.

"We have something to build on, more so than ever before," said Bezbatchenko, who expects all three DPs to return.

On the minus side, the team has limited room under the salary cap.

It could save some money by letting go of free agent forward Robbie Findley (US$255,000 salary this season) although Morrow ($179,560) is due a new deal.

With more stadium renovations in the works, Toronto will start the 2016 season with perhaps as many as eight straight road games.

Manning says his goal is eight points from those eight games. Toronto had nine in going 3-4-0 on the road to open this season.