RSS
ATOM
advertisement
USL Could Lose Two Top Teams
The Montreal Impact and the Vancouver Whitecaps, both finalists this year, will reportedly not return to the United Soccer Leagues in 2010.
Oct 29, 2009 5:56:58 PM
The top division of the United Soccer Leagues, USL-1, could be in for an extreme shake-up as two of the top clubs have not renewed agreements to join.
"The negotiations are finished," Alek Papadakis, one of the owners of USL told Montreal radio station CKAC. "I wish them good luck in their future plans "
The Whitecaps are already scheduled to leave USL and move to Major League Soccer, but not until 2011.
The situation for the Montreal Impact is trickier, as MLS commissioner Don Garber ruled the Impact out of the latest round of expansion prospects last year after Impact owner Joey Saputo reportedly low-balled MLS on the franchise fee.
However, there has been talk for some time of certain club owners forming their own breakaway league.
The Canadian Press also reported that the two sides are still in negotiations.
"We are open to the return of the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps to USL-1 for 2010;" said a statement from the USL. "However, we continue to move forward with our preparations for next season."
A new breakaway league would have to be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation if teams from the U.S. are included, which is likely. It could perhaps be a second division of MLS.
The federation president, Sunil Gulati, recently indicated in a New York Times interview that the question of promotion/relegation for MLS was a possibility, "down the road."
Goal.com
"The negotiations are finished," Alek Papadakis, one of the owners of USL told Montreal radio station CKAC. "I wish them good luck in their future plans "
The Whitecaps are already scheduled to leave USL and move to Major League Soccer, but not until 2011.
The situation for the Montreal Impact is trickier, as MLS commissioner Don Garber ruled the Impact out of the latest round of expansion prospects last year after Impact owner Joey Saputo reportedly low-balled MLS on the franchise fee.
However, there has been talk for some time of certain club owners forming their own breakaway league.
The Canadian Press also reported that the two sides are still in negotiations.
"We are open to the return of the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps to USL-1 for 2010;" said a statement from the USL. "However, we continue to move forward with our preparations for next season."
A new breakaway league would have to be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation if teams from the U.S. are included, which is likely. It could perhaps be a second division of MLS.
The federation president, Sunil Gulati, recently indicated in a New York Times interview that the question of promotion/relegation for MLS was a possibility, "down the road."
Goal.com
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
19 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
RIGG: Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is certainly no Mr. February
The Swedish striker traditionally struggles in February. Facing a three-match ban this month, the jinx looks set to continue.
-
DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream
In his latest diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about playing in his first World Cup despite a back injury and what it meant to score.
-
ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein
Capello and John Terry are far from blameless in the England saga, but the real culprit is the FA chairman.
-
LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction
With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?
-
ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment
Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.
Advertisement
Advertisement