Any time a professional sports team falls short of goals or suffers through a run of disappointing results, a coach’s job could be on the line.

So when Orlando City went 21 games with two wins between May and September, fans questioned head coach Jason Kreis’ future with the club.

If the Lions again miss the playoffs, how likely is it that Kreis is Orlando City’s coach next season?

“100 percent,” club CEO Alex Leitão said.

He went on to say he and Kreis will sit down with majority owner Flávio Augusto da Silva and general manager Niki Budalic in the offseason to discuss the plan for next year and how they will change things to reach their objectives.

About a month ago, right after Orlando City lost a critical game at home to Vancouver, Kreis said he continued to feel support from ownership and reiterated that when he signed on as coach midway through 2016, it was with an understanding that this was a long-term project.

“I have a long-term contract here,” Kreis said at the time. “I think I certainly have been doing my best to remind myself that it is about the long term because I’m an impatient guy. … But I still believe in our project, I still believe in what we’re doing and I still believe in the long-term vision of what we’re doing, and as far as I know ownership feels the same.”

The team’s struggles were not restricted to the pitch this season. Various players also had run-ins with law enforcement — Cyle Larin’s DUI charge, Will Johnson’s domestic battery arrest and most recently Giles Barnes and Donny Toia being trespassed from Epcot.

How will Leitão and the rest of the front office and technical staff fix those issues?

“Look, of course it’s a more complex answer, but to make it simple: It’s my understanding that the coaching staff and ownership know that this is a very special place, a very special club,” Leitão said.

“We made investments, I mean we built a $185 million stadium, we have the highest-paid athlete…so for the players, they must deserve to be there — and that’s on the field and off the field. We need leaders. We need guys who really hunger with the desire to be here. If I don’t see in any of the players that desire, that hunger, or [if] I understand that any player does not deserve to be in the club, because it’s a very special club, they will be out. And it could be my call.”

Leitão said he is prepared for a busy offseason.

ardelgallo@orlandosentinel.com