TORONTO - John Carver says he quit as Toronto FC head coach because of problems with the league not the club.
"There is nothing else in the pipeline, and the people at Toronto have been fantastic to me," Carver told Newcastle's Sunday Sun.
"It is the MLS with whom I have issues."
Carver, 44, was fined US$750 by the league earlier this week for criticizing the referee who awarded a penalty to Dallas last weekend in a Toronto loss. And in March 2008, he was irate when he was featured in a DVD sent to game officials for his touchline behaviour in a previous game.
Toronto FC announced Carver was leaving for personal reasons. "His resignation will take effect immediately," the club said in a seven-paragraph statement Saturday.
Toronto (2-2-2) said no further comment would be made until after Sunday's home game against Kansas City.
Carver was hired as head coach of Toronto FC on Feb. 1, 2008, taking over from Mo Johnston who was given a new title (managing director of soccer) while having his front office duties expanded.
The team was 11-15-10 under Carver.
Carver has ties to Newcastle and Alan Shearer, the former star striker who has taken over interim manager of the Magpies. Carver played and coached at Newcastle.
