Tim Pernetti out at NYCFC; Tom Glick hired as team president

NEW YORK (AP) - New York City FC is replacing its leader before playing its first game in Major League Soccer.

The expansion team said Thursday that Tim Pernetti will leave his job as chief business officer after its March 8 opener. NYCFC says Pernetti has been hired as president of multimedia for WME, IMG's college business.

Tom Glick will become NYCFC president Sunday. Glick is a former NBA executive who has worked for sister club Manchester City for the past two years.

NYCFC has been criticized after its parent company allowed star midfielder Frank Lampard to stay with Manchester City through the end of the Premier League season. NYCFC announced last summer that Lampard and David Villa would be its most well-known players for its inaugural season.

Pernetti spent four years as Rutgers' athletic director before he was forced to resign in April 2013 for his handling of a scandal involving basketball coach Mike Rice, who verbally abused players. Pernetti was hired to run NYCFC's business operations that September.

Glick has been chief commercial officer of Manchester City since 2012. An American, he worked for minor league baseball teams from 1989-04, moved to the NBA from 2004-05 as vice president of marketing and team operations and the New Jersey Nets as chief marketing officer from 2006-07. He was chief executive officer of the English soccer club Derby from 2008-12.

Glick will report to Ferran Soriano, NYCFC's managing director and chief executive of its parent, City Football Group, and of Manchester City.

NYCFC will play at Yankee Stadium while it seeks to build its own stadium. The Yankees are a minority owner.