Frankowski Lashes Out Over Playing Time

Tomasz Frankowski will most likely not be returning to the Chicago Fire next year, according to comments published in the Chicago Tribune that highlight a rift between the Polish forward and the team’s coach, Denis Hamlett.Frankowski, 34, signed with the Eastern Conference club back in February, reportedly turning down a more lucrative offer with a club in Spain’s second division to come to America. The former Wisla Krakow standout went on to start the club’s first five games and returned the favor by scoring twice in Chicago’s second game of the season, but those would prove to be his only two strikes with the Fire, as he soon found himself riding the bench in favor of the newly acquired Brian McBride.

“Honestly, I have a lot of respect for the team but not the coach,” said Frankowski. “[Hamlett] wasn’t honest with me. I wanted to know why I wasn’t playing but he wouldn’t talk to me about it. He’s very closed off. I think we would have won the MLS Cup final with a different philosophy.”

Despite being under contract next season, Frankowski is planning to return to the Polish league. Coach Hamlett apparently won’t be sad to see him go, defending himself by saying, “I’ve been honest with him from day one. I told him my decision was in the best interest of the team.

“If he has stuff to say about me, that’s fine,” Hamlett concluded. “I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.”