Ron Jans talks about resigning from FC Cincinnati amid MLS investigation, MLSPA responds

BRADENTON, Florida – There's not much now-former FC Cincinnati head coach Ron Jans said he would change about his short stay at the club that started in August.

Jans, hired in August, spoke exclusively to The Enquirer after the Tuesday announcement he was resigning from his post in response to an investigation into his use of a racial slur while singing a song in the locker room.

Jans, who called his stay at FC Cincinnati "a great book with a very bad last chapter," indicated there's one thing he'd change, and expressed remorse for the use of the word that prompted the investigation.

Asked specifically if he would have handled anything differently during his time at FC Cincinnati, Jans said: “I wouldn’t have sung the word, that’s for sure. I learned that lesson. But I am who I am and if it doesn’t fit in this locker room, I think for a lot of players it was a good match and sometimes an excellent match but not with all of them.”

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Jans’ use of the word has been described as a clumsy attempt to connect with his players. Past players including former FC Cincinnati fan-favorite Emmanuel Ledesma, and others, rushed to defend Jans' character and reputation after the allegations surfaced last week.

Asked by The Enquirer if he accepted why players might be offended, Jans said yes.

“That has never been a question for me. If I hurt feelings, even if it was clumsy and not with bad intentions, I really apologize,” Jans said. “That has never been a question, so, I don’t feel guilty but I really apologize if I hurt feelings.”

The Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) released a Tuesday afternoon statement regarding reports about the complaint about Jans, saying, "the narrative that the conduct here involved singing along to song lyrics is completely false."

"We have been incredibly disappointed by the attempts to manipulate the public conversation over the last few days with false narratives and strategic leaks to the press," MLSPA Executive Director Bob Foose said in the statement. "For example, the narrative that the conduct here involved singing along to song lyrics is completely false, despite the former coach’s recent assertions. Also false is the narrative that a complaint was filed by any particular player or players. These intentional falsehoods have added to the toxicity of the atmosphere and encouraged further, deplorable abuse of players. They were clear attempts to manipulate the truth and intimidate those who call out unacceptable behavior."

Contact for a response to the statement, Jans responded via test message to say, "I didn't lie. It's my version but I stick to it."

In a separate incident, a MLSPA complaint against Jans says he made inappropriate comments about slavery before the Oct. 6, 2019, game against D.C. United. In that case, it was said after Jans spent time at the nation's memorials and was meant to inspire the team to overcome adversity.

Jans also said his preference would have been for the issues to have been addressed in real-time and not weeks and months later, adding, “that doesn’t feel good.”

Jans said he plans to return to his family in Netherlands early next week after using the rest of this week to sort his affairs out in Cincinnati.

“When you have things like this, you want to be with your family but you’ve got to believe me, I had hundreds – maybe even a thousand now – reactions from Holland that support me,” Jans said.

Upon departing the club, Jans stressed he held no ill feelings toward anyone, including any players that might have been involved with the MLSPA complaint.

"When I look back now, I don't want to remember only the last three days. But I want to have the big picture, and the big picture is that we had a really good time and I met so many good people in America, in the club,” Jans said. “They told me that I made a big contribution to create a better culture but, in the end, in the locker room, yeah, you can ask your questions if I did it in there. I think for a lot of players, yes. For some players, maybe not, but I loved my stay and I wish FC Cincinnati all the best. With (club owners) Carl and Martha Lindner, I liked them so much and I wish them all the best and all the people in the club the same because I had a great time but some terrible days at the end.

“I think in this situation, it’s the best to make this decision.”

As Jans' status with FC Cincinnati remained in question, the club struggled to cope in some aspects.

A training session on Saturday was noticeably subdued, and the team disappointed in a Sunday preseason match against MLS expansion side Nashville SC.

Afterward, Cincinnati center back Maikel van der Werff noted the Jans situation was weighing on the team.

"The result was not good. The play was not good," van der Werff said. "We were not sharp enough. Made a lot of mistakes in passing and sloppy passes and those things, which, normally, should be good. Sure, winning and losing – you will grow and you will learn and also from these kinds of matches, but it's clear that everyone can see – the whole thing about the coach, it has a big influence in the team and I think you could see that today for sure."

FC Cincinnati will remain at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for preseason preparations through Friday. After playing one final preseason match against Icelandic side KR Reykjavik, the club will return to Cincinnati on Friday.

The regular season begins March 1 when Cincinnati travels to Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey for a match against New York Red Bulls.

Long-time FC Cincinnati assistant coach was on Tuesday named interim head coach. It marks the second time he's taken on that responsibility.

Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati General Manager Gerard Nijkamp is expected to convene an international search for the club's next head coach.