Dan Flynn: “I really wouldn’t want to put an exact time line on it. I don’t want to put the general manager under so undo pressure.” (FrontRowSoccer.com Photo)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

ORLANDO — There’s no exact timetable on it but hiring a general manager for the men’s and national teams and a new head coach for the men is a priority for U.S. Soccer, CEO Dan Flynn said Saturday.

The U.S. has been without a fulltime head coach since Bruce Arena resigned after the team’s failure to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Former assistant coach Dave Sarachan has been the caretaker coach since January.

Flynn wouldn’t say whether the federation would wait until the World Cup in Russia was finished before it would hire a coach.

“It’s certainly a priority,” he said during new U.S. Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro’s first press conference with the media. “I really wouldn’t want to put an exact time line on it. I don’t want to put the general manager under so undo pressure. I think we all want to provide the proper framework and time line. We’ll come to an agreement as we go through the hiring process what that exact timeline. Rest assured, it is a priority.”

But first things first.

Before a coach can be named, a GM must be selected — for both squads — though Flynn said the men’s side is the priority. Jill Ellis runs the women’s team.

Flynn said that Cordeiro will fly into Chicago this week to discuss the men’s GM.

“He will see the framework and the timeline that we have laid out,” he said. “We’re not going to publicly state a timeline. We have candidates identified which we’re not going to speak about today, and review that with Carlos.

“Jill is also coming to Chicago this week. Hopefully we can coordinate it with Carlos when he is there. It’s is a little bit different with the women because they are in mid-stream. Jill is committed as well.”

The defending world champions will attempt for qualify for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France later this year.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.