So it goes...the story of Toronto FC and Kevin Payne

Former TFC president Kevin Payne

In Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Billy Pilgrim, the book's main character consistently repeats the phrase "...so it goes." Vonnegut uses this phrase as a transition, coming after plot points where it might be used to explain the unexplained, such as with deaths. This concept can be immediately be applied to Toronto FC and its revolving door of management, players and staff.

The Kevin Payne era at TFC started nearly 10 months ago and impressively is also one of the shortest eras at the club. Mo Johnston, John Carver, Preki and the ill fated Aron Winter experiment all lasted longer. While Paul Mariner was let go only seven months into his managerial reign, he had been hired at the same time as Winter. This leaves Chris Cummins and Nick Dasovic as TFC's shortest term holders, however they were both interm.

What can be seen from this however is the constant turnover at the club. It is a club that has had more managers (including Ryan Nelsen) than it has years of existence. It is a club that trusted former German international and current US coach Juergen Klinsmann to make decisions for it, instead of from inside the organization. Finally, it is a club that has consistently failed on the pitch (outside of a run to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions League).

Wrapped up in this story is the fans. Of whom, I count myself as one of them. Having to endure the constant failure on the field, the constant promises of success from management, want-away players, and an ownership group who initially at least, had no idea what they were doing, there is still a base (albeit slightly crazy) that would do anything for the club. This is where we come back to the man that is Kevin Payne.

His "get used to it" answer to Jason DeVos' question about whether or not the supporters should expect more international friendlies was the final 'fu*k you' to the supporters. The ones who have stuck around since the beginning. Payne's backed words (such as not bringing in an overage European type of player) and his 'outgoing' (for lack of a better word) personality, brought about his demise when new MLSE president Tim Leiweke came to town.

In a way, TFC supporters have come to expect this. Someone new comes to town, tries to do things his way and eventually gets fired. As Billy Pilgrim would say, "...so it goes."

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