Galaxy coach Gullit resigns

The flagging fortunes of the Los Angeles Galaxy, who are captained by England midfielder David Beckham, were dealt a further blow this week when the team's head coach Ruud Gullit resigned for personal reasons.

Dutchman Gullit, who was appointed last November, will be replaced on an interim basis by first-year assistant coach Cobi Jones, the club said in a statement.

In a related move, Galaxy president and general manager Alexi Lalas, instrumental in luring Beckham to the Major League Soccer (MLS) club in July last year, has been fired from his job.

A former United States international in his playing days, Lalas was "relieved of his duties immediately", the club said.

"With Ruud moving on, we believe that this is the right time to make more sweeping changes throughout the organisation,"

Timothy J. Leiweke, head of Galaxy's investors/operators AEG, said in a statement.

Gullit's presence, along with the arrival of Beckham last season, had raised expectations for the club.

Although they made a promising start to this campaign, they are in the midst of a seven-game winless streak and lie fourth in the MLS Western Conference.