Sydney FC coach resigns after 2-4 start to season

SYDNEY (AP) -Ian Crook has resigned as coach of Sydney FC hours after the team's fourth loss in six matches to start the A-League season, citing health concerns for his decision.

Sydney FC said Sunday at a media conference that assistant coach Steve Corica would take over on an interim basis.

On Saturday, Crook substituted star recruit Alessandro Del Piero in the 66th minute with Sydney leading the Melbourne Victory 2-0. But the Victory scored a comeback 3-2 win, and Crook later had a verbal altercation with Sydney fans who complained to him on the sideline about Del Piero's removal.

He said later it was always planned to substitute Del Piero, who had suffered from hamstring tightness and didn't play in Sydney's 7-2 loss last week to Central Coast.