Montreal Say They Never Withdrew MLS Bid

A briefing from Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo disputed claims that the Canadian outfit had withdrawn their bid to become a Major League Soccer franchise.

Monday, speaking to the media in Montreal, Saputo tried to clarify his position.

“Montreal never at any point withdrew its bid from the process,” Saputo said. “We were rather informed that our bid was not retained.”

Saputo insisted that the Montreal partnership group never had problems financing its bid and that there was never a question of using public money.

The problem with Montreal’s bid stems from the investment group, including the Saputo and Gillette families, not believing that the $40 million U.S. is a reasonable amount of money to pay for a franchise.

“We have the capacity to pay the $40 million US expansion fee,” the 44-year-old businessman said. “I assure you that the issue was never a question of MLS not being affordable for our group. It was, above all, a question of being sensible.”

Saputo also seemed miffed by the MLS’s reaction to their bid saying that his investment group was never able to meet with MLS to discuss the proposal nor did they receive any positive feedback from the league.

“I can only assume that the expansion fee, and the expansion fee alone, is the predominate criteria for entering the MLS,” Saputo said.

Saputo also stated that while his franchise may have been ruled out for expansion in 2011 they would be open to any possible expansion in the future.

“We will always look for ways to reach higher goals without selling ourselves short or mortgaging our future,” he said.

No matter what each side says the facts remain the same. Montreal is no longer in the running for an MLS franchise in 2011. The list of possible suitors is now down to six with two Canadian cities, Ottawa and Vancouver, still in the running for a team.

--Allen Ramsey, Goal.com