FRANK STAPLETON resigned as coach of the New England Revolution yesterday, five days after the team failed to qualify for the Major League Soccer playoffs.

"I had been mulling it over for the last 24 hours," said Stapleton, "and after taking everything into consideration and discussing it with my family, I decided to resign."

Stapleton, the all time leading scorer for Ireland with 20 goals in 71 internationals, had previously been assistant coach for Queens Park Rangers in the English Premier League (1994-95)