Kingston FC began a new chapter midway through their debut season.

New ownership and management was revealed in a press conference held by Kingston FC at the Invista Centre on July 6.

Jimmy Hamrouni stepped down as head coach and majority owner of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) franchise on June 28, after coaching just eight games. Hamrouni cited that his decision to step down was best for his family and his business — the Ottawa-based Soccer Prospect Academy.

“We thank Jimmy for the contribution he made to the club,” said club chairman Lorne Abugov said at the press conference. “But this is the start of a new chapter for Kingston FC.”

The new majority owners are Abugov and Queen’s graduate Joe Scanlon, both of whom were initially minority owners alongside Hamrouni. They are currently in search for Kingston youth soccer organizations to be part of the ownership group and want to build a youth academy that would put local players on a pathway to the pros.

“Every kid has a dream to play professional soccer, and every kid has to know that the logical place for them to play high-level soccer in this region is Kingston FC,” Abugov said.

“If we cannot make that happen, professional soccer in Kingston will not survive.”

The search for a new coach was painless for Abugov.

Colm Muldoon expressed interest in a coaching position to Abugov in early June, once he heard word of the new pro soccer franchise. With an extensive background in coaching elite soccer, he was Abugov’s first choice once the position opened three weeks later.

Muldoon’s qualified as an A-level coach and managed an under-21 men’s team in his hometown of Athlone, Ireland. He recently had a stint managing in the NCAA with Middle College in Cochran, Georgia, before moving to Belleville in 2011.

“Before Colm arrived, the boys were pretty much coaching themselves.” Abugov said.

“Now they’re buying into [his] system, and it’s been refreshing.”

Kingston FC has gone 1-4 since Muldoon took the helm on June 28. They currently sit 14th in the 16-team CSL with 10 points.

­­—With files from Peter Morrow