By Canadian Press

Martin Nash leaves Cavalry FC to take over York United as head coach

Dec 21, 2021 | 12:42 PM

TORONTO — Martin Nash is leaving Cavalry FC to become head coach of York United FC.

Nash, who was first-team coach and technical director under head coach and GM Tommy Wheeldon Jr. at the Calgary-based Canadian Premier League team, succeeds Jim Brennan at York’s helm. York opted last month not to renew the contract of Brennan, who doubled as head coach and technical director. 

The move came two days after a young York side lost 3-1 to defending champion Forge FC in the CPL semifinals.

Nash, the younger brother of Canadian basketball icon and current Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash, has signed a two-year deal with an option for another year,

“Martin was simply the candidate who showed the greatest enthusiasm for our roster and had the most cohesive direction on how to take the group forward,” Angus McNab, York’s CEO, president and GM, said in a statement. 

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The youngest team in the league, York finished fourth with an 8-8-12 record last season but won only one of its last nine games (1-4-4) including the playoff defeat. 

“I’m hugely grateful to The Nine Stripes for affording me this opportunity and I genuinely can’t wait to get to work,” Nash said in a statement. “We have a dynamic and talented group of players who are hungry to win and I look forward to starting with them on the training ground.” 

The 45-year-old Nash made 38 appearances for Canada from 1997 to 2008.

A midfielder, he played club football in England with Stockport County, Chester City and Macclesfield Town. He played in North America for the Vancouver 86ers and Whitecaps, Montreal Impact and Rochester Raging Rhinos as well as indoor stints with the Edmonton Drillers and Dallas Sidekicks.

He subsequently served as assistant coach and assistant GM with the now-defunct Ottawa Fury and was a staff coach with the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Brennan, who joined York in July 2018, signed a contract extension in May 2020 that ran through 2021, with a club option for 2022. The club had until the end of December to trigger that option. 

York finished third, fifth and fourth in the regular season under Brennan, who had coached the franchise since its inception. 

The club, which plays at York University’s York Lions Stadium, rebranded last season to York United FC from York 9 FC. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 21, 2021

The Canadian Press