ON THE SIDELINES : Tacoma Stars Fire Hinton Again

Alan Hinton, coach of the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League, has been fired after his team took a 4-7 start on the season.

He was replaced by Keith Weller, assistant coach with the league champion San Diego Sockers, the team announced Tuesday.

Hinton said he learned Monday of his dismissal. “I thought I had the full support of the ownership,” he said.

“This is a big shock to me,” he said. “I didn’t expect this to happen.”

It was the second time Hinton has been fired by the Stars. The franchise’s original ownership group fired him in January, 1988. He was rehired when the new ownership group revived the team in the summer of 1988.

Hinton said his assistant coach, Steve Buttle, also has been fired.