Team president Fox gone ahead of the 2020 season

SAN JOSE >> San Jose Earthquakes president Tom Fox, who joined the team in June 2017, departed after the end of the season, he confirmed Wednesday.

“I was getting restless and I wanted to do something else,” Fox said.

He added that he does not expect Earthquakes owner John Fisher to replace him. Instead, Fox said the team will turn to chief operating officer Jared Shawlee to help run the business operations.

A Major League Soccer source said he could not comment on the move because the Quakes plan to make an official announcement soon. The announcement is expected to include other front-office changes the team plans ahead of the 2020 season, which opens Feb. 29 at Avaya Stadium against Toronto FC.

Fox’s departure was first reported last month by the Sports Business Journal.

Fox said he told Fisher in September that he would not return, giving ownership time to figure out how to move forward. He added that the team is “in a real good spot, certainly on the field. I thought it was the right time. I didn’t want to start another season and leave partway through.”

Fox said he plans to spend the winter skiing in Park City, Utah, and doing consulting work before entertaining his next career move.

He replaced former president Dave Kaval, now in charge of the Athletics, in midseason in 2017. Fox oversaw the Quakes’ business and technical sides while general manager Jesse Fioranelli ran the soccer operation.

The Earthquakes played last season without naming rights for their 18,000-seat stadium and the players’ jerseys, two important revenue streams that helps teams invest in more onfield talent. But Fox said team executives have worked hard to secure partnerships in both areas and could have deals completed soon.

Fox came to San Jose after two seasons as chief executive of Aston Villa of the English Premier League. He also had served as chief commercial officer at famed English club Arsenal.

• The Earthquakes have three of the first 38 picks, including the No. 12 overall selection, in the MLS draft, which kicks off at 9:30 a.m. today. San Jose has five picks overall across four rounds.

Rounds 1 and 2 will be streamed live on Twitter through ESPN and MLS jointly. The third and fourth rounds are scheduled for Monday.