Mariner told the Arizona Republic recently he is interested in the position.

Sounders FC is an MLS expansion team set to play next season. Mariner also told the Arizona Republic he interviewed for the head job with the Chicago Fire earlier this year.

“If [becoming an MLS head coach] doesn’t happen, I’ll probably stay with [Steve Nicol], and then move on and work in Asia in media and coach,” Mariner told the newspaper.

Mariner joins the rumors of Sigi Schmid and current Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer for the expansion club’s opening. I have also heard they were interested in former Colorado head coach Fernando Clavijo.

So on one hand you have Schmetzer and the other now Mariner. I think either one is a perfect fit for the club. Mariner is a head coach in the waiting for the most part. He’s been waiting on the right situation and an expansion club is just that I believe. If he doesn’t take this job in Seattle I look for him to wait it out until one of the 2011 expansion clubs. For some reason I just don’t see him going to Philadelphia.

My feels are still that Schmetzer will stay on board with the club as it’s coach once they move into the big league.

According to SBI, Vermes has now turned down a head coaching position with next year’s expansion club, Seattle Sounders FC.

According to sources, Seattle has already reached out to three different coaching candidates, including Vermes and at least one current MLS head coach. Current Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer had been believed to be the front-runner for the Sounders FC position when the club was formed, but it has become clear that Henderson is looking for a head coach with MLS experience. Schmetzer was recently identified as a candidate for the job by Seattle general manager Adrian Hanauer.

From what I’ve heard up in Seattle, Schmetzer seems the most likely candidate to take the position. He is familiar with everything Seattle and having Chris Henderson (a former MLS player) as the club’s technical director will help him out in the MLS aspect of the job. But don’t be shocked to see them go after Sigi Schmid here either in the off season.

But why is Vermes not moving away from Kansas City at the moment? He’s helped build this club to where it is at today. They went from a veteran lead club to a very young club through the draft over the last couple season and probably even into next year with the amount of picks they will have again in the draft. Some also believe he is eager to take a position with thew new Philadephia club in 2010 (he’s from that area originally).

I like Vermes, but for some reason I just don’t see him as a head coach in this league though I am willing to hold out my judgment until that day comes. He seems fit to figure things out in the front office with being a technical director or a general manager. Sure his moves with the Wizards haven’t been great yet but that club is still moving in a positive direction. Anytime you have a heavy flavor of youth on a club there is always going to be growing pains.

Was this the right move for Vermes? What’s better a club with tons of youth in KC or building an expansion club? Some like the expansion challenge and others don’t.