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Red Stars fire head coach Hayes, begin search for new leader

Six games into its second season, the Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer have relieved head coach Emma Hayes from her duties with the struggling club.

The search for a new head coach begins immediately.

Hayes, 33, who brought with her a stellar resume after capturing several European titles with Arsenal Ladies Football Club, departs with a WPS record of 7-18-7 overall. Last season the club earned a 6-14-6 mark, and this season the Red Stars have a 1-4-1 record, which puts them in seventh place in the eight-team league.

"I want to thank Emma for her hard work and assistance with the launch of the Red Stars franchise," Red Stars general manager Marcia McDermott said. "This was a difficult decision to make because she poured her heart into the organization. We felt it was time for a change as we move forward and look to put together a successful run this season."

The Red Stars host Bay Area's FC Gold Pride at 7 p.m. Saturday at Toyota Park. Before the match, Italian powerhouse A.C. Milan is training from 5 to 6 p.m., but fans must purchase a Red Stars ticket to observe A.C. Milan's workout. The Chicago Fire will play A.C. Milan in an international friendly at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 30, at Toyota Park.