Portland Thorns general manager and president Gavin Wilkinson has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the club's independent investigation of its 2015 investigation into former coach Paul Riley, the team announced on Wednesday.
The Thorns' announcement came just 40 minutes after the players released a list of demands for the organization, including requesting Wilkinson be placed on administrative leave until the team's independent investigation is completed. Wilkinson has not been suspended from his duties as general manger and president of MLS's Portland Timbers.
On Monday, Thorns owner Merritt Paulson said in an open letter that the organization had retained outside lawyers, including a female former federal prosecutor, to conduct the independent investigation. His letter was issued in the wake of The Athletic's reporting into allegations of sexual coercion by Riley, a former Thorns and North Carolina Courage coach, as well as subsequent inaction by NWSL teams and the league office.
In 2015, Portland player Mana Shim filed a complaint with team officials concerning Riley's behavior. At the time, the team investigated and announced Riley's contract would not be renewed but did not publicly state why.
Paulson apologized for the organization's role in "what is clearly a systematic failure across women's professional soccer" in his letter on Monday.
The Thorns' players also asked on Wednesday for "diversity of voices" within the club's board of executives and for the chance to "gain seats at the table" to increase communication between players and the front office.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Diego Diaz / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Thorns GM Gavin Wilkinson on administrative leave pending investigation results - The Athletic
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