Yallop informed the players of his resignation as Galaxy coach after the overnight charity game against Hollywood FC, something the club are expected to formally announce later today.

Yallop is set to be named coach of the San Jose Earthquakes later this week, returning to the Bay Area where he won MLS titles with the previous incarnation of the Earthquakes in 2001 and 2003.

Yallop had a tough season with the struggling Galaxy, but Beckham believes the coach was not to blame and expressed respect for the fact he was doing what was best for his career.

"We felt that he's the right man, that he's a good manager," the former England captain said in the Los Angeles Times.

"But he's not walking away. He's looking after himself, he's looking after his family."

Yallop arrived at the Galaxy midway through last season, enjoying initial success in turning around a poor 2006 campaign.

But 2007 was a different story with the disruption of Beckham's arrival, a schedule backlog, and a crippling injury list seeing the club miss out on the play-offs.

Until Yallop led the Galaxy on a five-game winning streak late in the season, it was widely expected he would be replaced in the close season anyway.

Given those circumstances, Yallop found the opportunity to return to the Bay Area too good to turn down.

Galaxy forward and USA captain Landon Donovan, who played in both Yallop's title-winning teams in San Jose, joined Beckham in offering his support to Yallop.

Donovan hinted interference from above - perhaps a side-effect of Beckham's arrival - had contributed to the coach's departure.

"I like Frank as a person and I think he's a great coach," Donovan told the Times.

"The unfortunate part is, he hasn't been allowed to show what a good coach he is this year.

"He's not been able to be himself. He's had people in his ear telling him what to do, and he's not been able to just get on with it.

"When he finally was left alone, we went on a seven-game unbeaten streak. I don't think anyone wants to work in those circumstances."