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Just getting to the United Soccer League Championship playoffs wasn’t enough for Ottawa Fury FC, which on Wednesday got rid of coach Nikola Popovic, saying it won’t renew his contract.

“I have a lot of respect for Nikola as a person and as a professional, it was a very difficult decision to make, but we ultimately decided to go in a different direction,” Fury FC GM Julian de Guzman said. “I would like to thank Nikola for his commitment to Fury FC and wish him success and good luck in his future endeavours.”

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Popovic joined the club in 2018 after spending two successful seasons with the Swope Park Rangers.

In two seasons as the Fury FC coach, Popovic had a record of 27 wins, 25 losses and 16 draws in USL Championship regular-season action. After missing the playoffs in 2018, finishing in 10th place with a record of 13 wins, six draws and 15th losses, Popovic and Fury FC were able to clinch their first playoff participation since 2015 with 14 wins, 10 draws and 10 losses, good for an eighth-place finish. But Ottawa lost its play-in round game 5-4 in penalty kicks to Charleston Battery last Wednesday.

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