The Blast yesterday relieved Kevin Healey of his coaching duties, retained him as general manager and named Sean Bowers player/coach through at least the rest of the season.

Team owner Edwin F. Hale said he'd been mulling over a coaching change as far back as last season but brought Healey back for his fifth year. However, the Blast has stumbled to a 2-5 start, and its four-game losing streak has put the team at the bottom of the Major Indoor Soccer League's East Division.

"I'm a realist, and the reality is that I was asked to step down as the coach," Healey said last night. "That's the decision Ed made, and I'm ready to move on. I'm a better coach than I was two years ago, but we're not winning games."

"It was one of the toughest things I've had to do in my business career," Hale said. "Kevin is such a good guy and such a good man, and I wanted to make sure he stayed with me as the GM.

"But I've looked for a while at making a change at coach, basically because we haven't been real successful. We've been very close, and I thought it might be time."

Hale said he informed the team of the moves at yesterday's practice.

Besides remaining as the team's general manager, Healey will also become executive vice president of Arena Venture, a joint operation that is involved in the running of the newly named 1st Mariner Arena.

Bowers will step in as the player/coach starting with tonight's home game against the defending-champion Philadelphia KiXX.

Healey had an 87-88 regular-season record in just over four seasons. The Blast went 5-5 in the playoffs under him and is one of only three teams - with the Kixx and Milwaukee - to make the postseason each of the previous three years.

But the Blast has had problems this season. An 11-point second quarter helped the KiXX score a 17-10 victory Saturday. Harrisburg used a 5-0 fourth-quarter surge for a 9-8 win on Oct. 26. Kansas City (17-12) and Milwaukee (12-10) defeated the Blast in the first two games of the losing streak.

Healey spoke to the team at practice yesterday and wished the players luck.

"I thanked the players for the things they did for me in my career," Healey said. "They all came up and shook my hand and most of them hugged me. It was an emotional moment."

Bowers, 34, was named the league's Defender of the Year last season and said he expects to make some changes. The new coach said he wants the team to play hard and aggressively, especially at home.

"I'm think I'm going to simplify the game," Bowers said. "I'm going to show the players what they're doing and why they're doing it. I think there has to be an attitude change [because] we have to have more of a killer instinct, especially at home."

Bowers said he feels no pressure and looks at the job as a challenge. Billy Ronson will remain as the assistant coach, and Healey will have a hand in player personnel. But Healey made it clear Bowers will have a "big say" on player management.

Bowers was an assistant coach for a year with Detroit and later turned down the head-coaching job. He also was the women's head coach for one season at William Jewell College in Missouri. That team posted an 8-6 record.