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  • Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Thorns FC

The Portland Thorns have parted way with head coach Paul Riley, bringing to an end a two-year reign for the British coach that promised much and delivered little.

Riley's contract expired at the end of the NWSL season, which concluded for the Thorns almost three weeks ago following the club's worst season in its three year history. Portland missed the playoffs for the first time in 2015, continuing a regression that started in 2014, Riley's first year, when the Thorns lost in the first round of the playoffs after winning the championship under different management in the league's inaugural season of 2013.

Riley's Thorns were consistently among the most talented sides in the NWSL, boasting, this season, eight players who played at the Women's World Cup in Canada. Those absences certainly hurt Portland this season, but Riley's tactical decisions and the team's inconsistency were often under fire.

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There's no question that Riley was well liked — a jovial, quotable presence who clearly cared about his players, loved his job, and had an extremely high regard for Thorns fans.

But there's also no question that Riley underachieved on a huge scale. Even in the NWSL—where the margins between teams are often even thinner than they are in MLS—the Thorns are by far and away the league's flagship franchise, in terms of support, infrastructure, and talent. Portland leads the league by miles in attendance, and has been featured on national television more than any other NWSL club.

In light of those standards, Riley's tenure was a failure. The Thorns, whether they like it or not, are the New York Yankees of their league. Whether GM Gavin Wilkinson also shares the blame for Riley's failure is a fair question.

Portland's next head coach will be its third in the team's history, and will have to make decisions about the scale of changes that have to be made ahead of next season.

The club has already started its search for a new manager, and expects to name Riley's successor soon—suggesting that Riley knew he was most likely on his way out when he gave several revealing and incendiary answers at a fan Q&A after the final home game of the season, and that Wilkinson also knew Riley was on his way out when he said that the situation was still being evaluated after the season finale.

There should be no shortage of candidates to replace the departed boss. Outside of the US national team, the Thorns job might be the best in American women's soccer.

The goal for the Thorns is always to win championships. This move is in line with that ambition. Riley has to live with the best gig of his career coming to an end, but he gets to return home to his house and his family on the East Coast. Back in Portland, for Wilkinson and Co., the real work begins.