Chicago Fire president and GM John Guppy leaves team

Chicago Fire president and general manager John Guppy has left the team, officials said Friday.

The two sides "agreed to part ways," the Fire said in a statement.

Andell Sports Group Managing Director Javier Leon will fill in as interim president and general manager. Officials will begin looking for a permanent replacement immediately, the Fire said.

"John's professionalism and dedication has been valued and appreciated by the Fire organization for the past four years, but I believe it is in the team's best interests to go in a new direction with its senior leadership and management," said Fire owner Andrew Hauptman.

Guppy said he was proud of the Fire's accomplishments and wished the team well.

"It's important for the president and owner of an organization to be on the same page. That wasn't the case," Guppy said.

Guppy's departure isn't the only recent change for the Fire. Longtime assistant Denis Hamlett became head coach in January, ending a long search to find a successor to Juan Carlos Osorio, who left for personal reasons.

Goalkeepers Matt Pickens and Dominic Cervi also left the team. Pickens left for England after contract negotiations failed and Cervi never signed a MLS contract.

When Hauptman met with the media before the season opener he said Guppy had some work to do.

"There is definitely room for improvement," he said.