TOA Update: Are the Scales Tipping Toward the USL?
Podcast
I’d like to bring your attention to a round table discussion podcast I appeared on last night concerning the ongoing battle for a new second division soccer league in North America. Richard Farley of World Soccer Reader’s podcast –Inside the Six and writer for Set Piece Analysts gathered: Kartik Krishnaiyer from Major League Soccer Talk, The Kartik Report and Set Piece Analysts, Kristian Vazquez of Pasion Naraja and me for a very thorough and interesting discussion of the topic.
This ongoing battle for control between the Team Owners Association (TOA) and the United Soccer Leagues (USL) seems to get more interesting with each twist and turn. However, soccer supporters seems to feel it’s time to get this dispute resolved and the United States Soccer Federation is in agreement. After allowing the two sides to resolve their differences, the USSF has stepped in and most likely will make a decision soon regarding the battle for second division soccer in North America. Even though the momentum seems to be moving toward the NASL in the way of public support, you might be surprised to hear what all panelists agreed will be the outcome. Please go to Set Piece Analysts for the Podcast.
Canadian News
In other news, both Ryan Johnston of Sports Net Canada and Duane Rollins of The 24th Minute have some very interesting news out of Canada after yesterday’s Canadian Soccer Associations (CSA) press conference where they announced they have given interim coach Stephen Hart the full-time position. IMS was in contact with both writers yesterday before the press conference and was assured they would be asking the CSA about the issues concerning the the TOA and USL.
As Johnston wrote today: Peter Montopoli, CSA general secretary and de facto spokesperson, was cornered by myself and 24th Minute man Duane Rollins on Monday while the rest of the soccer intelligentsia welcomed Stephen Hart to the world of full-time employment. Montopoli began by reiterating the existing blogosphere belief that the CSA would take its cues from the USSF in regards to sanctioning teams set to participate in the new league.
Johnston looks at scenarios concerning the Nutrilite Canadian Championship (NCC) if Montreal and Vancouver play in a non-sanctioned league and the involvement of CONCACAF.
Duane Rollins gives us a slightly different picture at The 24th Minute. Duane also looks at the NCC and the CONCACAF in one of two articles he has posted today.
In the second post and in regards to the TOA v USL battle, Rollins quotes Montopoli as saying “It’s a bridge we’ve yet to cross.” Montopoli said after a press conference in Toronto Monday, “We are in weekly contact with the USSF (about the issue).”
“We are hopeful that the USSF will sanction the league, whether it’s called the NASL or something else,” Montopoli said. “Once that happens we invite the Whitecaps and Impact, and any other team looking to be a part of it, to approach us to be sanctioned.”
Rollins also asked the CSA general secretary about the report at IMS that both the CSA and Puerto Rico Football Federation (PRFF) had been invited to the meetings this past weekend. IMS received that information from a newspaper article in a Puerto Rican newspaper this weekend. Kristian Vazquez told IMS that he had confirmed this with the president of the PRFF. However, Rollins seems to say that neither the CSA nor the PRFF were at the meetings this past weekend.
Rollins also says it’s possible that the meetings in NY this past weekend may have been conducted more to tell the NASL that they were not happy with the organization than to try to resolve the dispute.
Also, the St. Louis Today website is saying to check in with them today at 11:00 CT as they will be announcing the proposed St. Louis team name, coach and director of player personal. Thanks to Matthew for the heads up on this story. Also, live streaming of the event will be available at St. Louis United.com.
Comments are closed.
I still don’t see a compromise happening. The NASL has crossed the proverbial bridge and burned it. No looking back. It is like a Mastadon song.
I have a question about this that I haven’t heard addressed anywhere. All the focus right now seems on whether NASL will be sanctioned.
Is USL-1 guaranteed sanctioning for next year? Given that they only have 4 teams right now, and (as per the podcast) they are not in compliance with FIFA rules, could not USSF remove their sanctioning as a 2nd division league as well? If, as the podcast indicated, USL is the stumbling block in the negotiations, could that give the USSF some leverage to broker a compromise (if they truly desire to do so)?
The problem is, USL has told all parties that they would take all the teams back into USL, as long as they are current and pay their fees etc… This give the USSF an easy out and enough teams to have a league.
USL is simply protecting its business interests as any business would do. But it’s about time us Soccer fans and others involved in the game realized both MLS and USL serve the interests of the respective investors- in MLS’ case team owners, in USL’s case NuRock and the staff, rather than the sport.
I have no doubt that if the NASL is rejected and USL continues to serve as the second division that the sport itself is ultimately hurt. You’ll see waning interest in the NASL cities, and also a league whose model is better suited for youth soccer of the 1990s, continue to have a lot of influence over pro soccer into the 2010′s.
The sport will lose fans and a chance for remarkable growth if the NASL is rejected. I say this as someone who has worked with USL extensively on the youth level in the past. Sadly, USL doesn’t care any longer about moving the sport forward but simply hanging on to some claim of legitimacy.
The whole ordeal is horrid for the game in the US, particularly the Southeast US.
“The problem is, USL has told all parties that they would take all the teams back into USL, as long as they are current and pay their fees etc… This give the USSF an easy out and enough teams to have a league.”
All the teams BACK into USL… but what about AC St. Louis? The USL-1 rights to the market are owned by the St. Louis Lions (who evidently won’t be fielding a USL-1 team in 2010). I assume that means that USL couldn’t give St. Louis a USL-1 team even if they wanted to, without either the Lions’ consent or facing a possible lawsuit.
If some forced compromise steals away yet another chance for pro soccer in St. Louis, I’m gonna start blowing stuff up.
For anyone who has the time (roughly 90 minutes) you really should listen to the podcast. Outstanding at bringing to light all the current issues, a historical perspective, as well as all the players/entities (from the big guys like FIFA/USSF down to the USl-2 and PDL impact). It really will do a great job at painting the big picture while also filling in some of the smaller blanks.
USL is drowning right now and they are as good as dead. Their system has failed teams in USL-1 and the teams have responded. This shouldn’t even be a debate. NASL has won.
what happen if the NASL decide to carry on without sanctioning…
no champion league… what else?
“USL is drowning right now and they are as good as dead. Their system has failed teams in USL-1 and the teams have responded. This shouldn’t even be a debate. NASL has won.”
NASL hasn’t won until they get sanctioning. No sanctioning, they don’t win.
Sylvain. Please go back and read my article on Sunday concerning this issue as well as todays links to the Canadian sites. It will also mean to US Open Cup for US teams and it could also mean it would be tough to get international players like r Leonel Saint-Preux who played for MN, to be able to play for their national teams. Playing for a non-sanctioned team could harm their eligibility for international play. Most USL players are not playing for their national teams but some are, like the Canadian Nat team as well as a few others. Last year Miami had the youngster who played on the US Youth Nat. team. Forgetting his name at the moment.
The podcast is really excellent – the best summation of the whole situation so far, plus lots of new stuff (new to me, anyway, like the NASL already having more corporate sponsors than USL, and the stuff about Jack Warner’s business relationships with Traffic Sports, etc.)
Wow. I really do hope that, some day, someone writes a book on all this. Sure sounds like it deserves it. I also hope that I’ll get a chance to listen to more than 10 minutes of the podcast. Though I have to admit that Kartik’s touting of his being consulted on the NASL name nudges his credibility down a notch. The one thing that was desperately missing in the group was someone that has any connections to the USL. It’s the one voice that has been sadly lacking in all the reporting that’s been done. Not sure if there’s anyone to blame for that, though. Everyone’s done a solid job, at least, as solid as they could with the contacts they have.
The fat lady has sung. USL left with only 3 teams….austin, Portland, and Puerto Rico. Everyone knows that the NY group can’t financially field a team.
ERic, it’s because the USL likes to BURN bridges. There IS NO VOICE for them because they know they are finished and they have done a very poor job in this entire fiasco trying to gain support for their “cause”, or lack thereof. And now they are playing their final card: filing lawsuits against Rochester, Tampa and Baltimore… they know it’s over for them so all they can really due now is sue, sue, sue. They are a pathetic bunch and they are showing EXACTLY why everyone has jumped from their sinking ship. I’ll be glad to never hear USL-1 again after all this is over.
Again, USL has not lost until this new league is sanctioned. They may have a legitimate case against Tampa and Baltimore.
NASL has not won, yet.
It is great to see that everyone is chiming in and lest we forget that the USL has kept soccer alive at the grass roots level. Having played in the USISL outdoors as well as indoors in its infancy as well as in the APSL/ALeague I can see history repeating itself with the new NASL. The new NASL while a nice concept is doomed to fail as they will only suffer through the same missteps as past leagues such as the old NASL, APSL/ALeague, etc. The purchase of the USL by NuRock was only a last minute effort to preserve the influence of Francisco Marcos who has lost touch of his initial vision for soccer. The USL should refocus on a more regionalized second division that would be more conducive to the long term viability of franchises. As well they need to incorporate the indoor game back into the pyramid as another means of revenue generation and to retain players on year round contracts. This new NASL is going to have many issues not to mention who will oversee the league as a commisioner and how will they cut down on travel costs which is one of the primary concerns with most clubs. Additionally some of these markets don’t really support minor league soccer like Miami, Tampa and Atlanta. We shall see who will prevail, but this has left another black eye on the sport of soccer in North America and will probably hurt another generation of players that aspire to play professionally. MLS seems to be gaining momentum and it would be great to see minor league soccer finding a place in the North American landscape too.
“This has left another black eye on the sport of soccer in North America and will probably hurt another generation of players that aspire to play professionally. MLS seems to be gaining momentum and it would be great to see minor league soccer finding a place in the North American landscape too.”
Yep
The whole point of the TOA breakaway is that the USL structure and management is keeping minor-league soccer from “finding a place in the North American landscape.” Right now they’re breaking the eggs to make that omelet.