Toronto FC interim director of soccer Earl Cochrane visited the GOL TV studios Thursday morning for that day’s taping of Football Today where he spoke of the Re-Entry Draft, Toronto's search for a permanent head coach and the team's upcoming trip to Turkey for 2011 preseason.




In the first segment of a two-part interview, hosts Lee Godfrey and Luke Wileman asked Cochrane about Stage 1 of the inaugural MLS Re-Entry Draft, and why Toronto sat silent along with 15 other teams as just two players were selected.




Cochrane offered his thoughts, including what could be expected in Stage 2 of the Re-Entry process next Wednesday:

The second segment of Cochrane’s interview revealed where Toronto sits today in the permanent head coach selection process. The interim director admitted that the task of finding a new bench boss is being undertaken by SoccerSolutions, the consulting firm hired by Toronto FC with German legend Jurgen Klinsmann at the helm.




Cochrane further intimated that Toronto will be playing against some UEFA Champions League caliber clubs in the team’s preseason exhibition trip to Turkey in 2011.




Here is segment two of Cochrane’s interview:

Given the recent player purge and meticulous attention paid to every transaction from trades and drafts to exhibition opponents, this offseason seems as tactical as it has ever been at BMO Field.




The various units setup at the conclusion of the 2010 season continues with the grinding process of team building from all sides and results are proving deliberately incremental. Toronto fans will hope that these fragments will come together ahead of 2011 First Kick.  So far, the plan looks to be on track.




Full episodes of Football Today will be shown on GOL TV Canada Thursday at 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET. For a full schedule of GOL TV programming, including live matches from Germany and Spain this weekend, click here.

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