SAN JOSE — As a hard-nosed defender, Mark Watson didn’t hide from adversity. As a rookie coach, Watson reacted in similar fashion Tuesday in addressing questions about his future with the Earthquakes.

Watson, 44, called speculation of a coaching change in San Jose “part of the business. When a season hasn’t gone as you hoped for, and you’re lower down the standings then you hoped for” questions surface, he said.

The Houston Chronicle reported last weekend that Dynamo officials have given coach Dominic Kinnear permission to replace Watson should the Quakes offer him the job. San Jose officials said in a statement all decisions about players and staff would be made after the season. President Dave Kaval and general manager John Doyle were not at the practice facility Tuesday when two reporters were allowed access. The team’s executives usually leave after practice ends.

The Quakes are mired in a 10-game winless streak heading into a must-win game Saturday against the Portland Timbers. San Jose would be eliminated from the MLS Cup playoff race for the second consecutive year with a defeat at Buck Shaw Stadium.

Watson, who took over midway through last year on an interim basis when then-coach Frank Yallop abruptly left, wants to return next season.

“Anyone who has been with this club for a long time, there have been tough times but also real positives to look forward to,” he said. “Looking over at the stadium, it’s a huge thing. It’s been seven years of work to get there. I think everyone wants to be part of that.”

The Earthquakes plan to debut an 18,000-seat stadium across from Mineta San Jose International Airport next year. This summer, the team acquired its second designated player in Matias Perez Garcia of Argentina and also signed fullback Pablo Pintos of Uruguay.

Scoring leader Chris Wondolowski said the coaching speculation doesn’t affect players.

“That’s not a distraction,” he said. “That’s something you guys can write about as a good story. But once you step on the field it has no influence on anything.”

Watson senses the team is united on trying to defeat Portland.

“There are still games to be played, there are still points on the table, he said. “Obviously it is an extremely difficult situation. All I can do is just keep working with the group and whatever happens happen.”

Watson had been Yallop’s chief assistant since 2010 until taking over last year. The Quakes went 11-5-3 under Watson to miss the playoffs in a tiebreaker.

The Earthquakes finished the season with a seven-game unbeaten streak, and also advanced to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals after winning Group 5.

The team rewarded Watson with a multi-year deal, but with five games left this season, San Jose is 6-11-12 with almost no chance of making the playoffs.