By Spike Eskin

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Peter Nowak is out as manager and vice president of soccer operations for the Philadelphia Union, the team announced at a press conference today. Nowak will be replaced by John Hackworth.

“Today we’re announcing that Peter Nowak is stepping down as our head coach and team manager. I made the decision to do that,” CEO and operating partner Nick Sakiewicz said. ”This is not about the way the team has performed on the field, because quite frankly the team has performed well on the field,” he said. “This is more about philosophical differences, about the way Jay and I envision this club.”

“I’m not a wine connoisseur  but I know what good wine tastes like. When I sipped the wine recently I know it did’t taste very good,” Sakiewicz said. He insisted fan reaction to Nowak was not a factor in his decision.

“Peter is a dear friend of mine, and a lot of the things we did I’ll remmeber forever,” Hackworth said. “I’m humbled and honored … I take that responsibility very greatly,” he said. “There will be some changes, there will be some new faces out there.”

The move comes just two days after a report surfaced that Nowak has applied to be the manager of the Scottish Premier League team Hearts. Nowak denied that report.

It’s been a rocky season for Nowak and Union, who have a record of 2-7-2 this year, after making the playoffs last season.  The team has also traded some of its most well known players prior to, or during this season. Sebastien Le Toux, Danny Califf, and Danny Mwanga are all no longer with the team, while former goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon was allowed to sign with Deportivo Cali.