Northwestern men’s assistant soccer coach Mike Kirkland, a native of Great Britain, will step down at the end of this year because of problems with renewing his visa.

When Kirkland first arrived in 1997, Athletic Director Rick Taylor and head soccer coach Michael Kunert, who brought Kirkland back to NU when he visited England, helped him obtain a three-year employment visa.

Now, three years later, Kirkland needs another visa, but this time the university can’t take action, he said.

During Kirkland’s three-year tenure, NU changed its policy on helping faculty and staff receive or renew visas. And according to Kirkland, he doesn’t make enough money to qualify for another visa.

“The next visa I need requires a larger salary (than I currently make),” Kirkland said. “If I had the chance to stay at NU I would, but it’s very difficult for colleges to get the type of visas I need.”

Kirkland is now forced to look for a position elsewhere, but will stay with NU for the remainder of the year before stepping aside.

“The change will definitely have an effect,” junior midfielder Brandon Swalve said. “We’ll have to get used to a new face. But the university wouldn’t give (Kirkland) a raise and he needs to make a living.

“He won’t just turn his back on our team even though it seems like the athletic department may have turned its back on him.”

Kirkland is angling for a position with the Glenview Soccer Club, who is helping him obtain the visa he needs to stay in the United States.

If the club can’t come through, Kirkland will have no choice but to return to England.

Kirkland, who was in charge of the Cats’ recruiting for the last two years, said if he gets the job in Glenview he will try to send a few players Kunert’s way.

Kirkland said he has no hard feelings toward NU for not helping him get his second visa.

“I’m grateful for what (NU) has done,” Kirkland said. “It gave me a starting point. NU is now my alma mater. I’m not going to any other college.”

Replacing Kirkland is Michael Cornell, who coaches the junior varsity soccer team at Evanston Township High School.

Cornell graduated from DePauw in 1994 and was an assistant coach there the following year. He moved to Evanston in 1996 and has been involved in camps at ETHS ever since.

In addition, Cornell is in his third year as a player in the National League, an indoor and outdoor soccer league that plays year-round. He said the idea of being an assistant coach at the collegiate level is one he has pondered for the last four years.

Now Kirkland’s departure has given him the chance to pursue it.

“I want to bring as much, if not more, enthusiasm to this team and take it to another level,” Cornell said. “I think that’s what everyone in a position like mine hopes for.”