We have received information from multiple sources that the Cleveland City Stars have ceased operations and will not return to play professional soccer. This comes as quite a shock as positive news was heard yesterday. There are lot of unanswered questions at this point, but it is safe to say that this is disappointing news for players, staff, and obviously supporters. An official announcement from the City Stars organization is expected early next week. We did not want to publish this information early, but thought
Multiple sources suggest that the sale of the City Stars will be official sometime next week. We were told that it is “now in the hands of the lawyers” and should be wrapped up soon. Officials with the United Soccer Leagues declined to make specific comments on the matter, but did say an important update on the City Stars would be made available next week. Past comments from the club suggest the franchise will remain in the USL in some capacity. The City Stars have
Another team left USL-1 today as the Rhinos chose to join the revived NASL rather than stay in a depleted USL-1. It will be interesting to see what the remaining USL-1 clubs will do.
We spoke with Portland Timbers striker Mandjou Keita before he left for his loan assignment at Salgaocar Sport Club in India’s first division. Keita literally has a world of experience with time spent with Guinea’s U-23 National Team, Malaysia’s Perak FC, and Brunei’s DPMM FC. He also had stints in Vietnam, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. His experience in India should only add to his development. The striker is poised to play a key role in Portland’s final season in USL-1. Our sources
United Soccer Leagues issued the following elaboration regarding Wednesday morning’s CKAC Sports radio interview with USL CEO Alec Papadakis concerning the status of USL-1 teams. “While the statements made in the earlier interview are accurate in that we have ceased negotiations with the Team Owner’s Association (TOA) as a group, we remain in dialogue with certain individual TOA teams about their possible participation in USL-1 for 2010. We are open to the return of the Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps to
“Following the press release issued earlier by the USL, I would also like to confirm there are still ongoing talks between ongoing talks between the Montreal Impact and the USL,” declared Montreal Impact President Joey Saputo. “The negotiations are not over. We continue to work on various options, including the possibilitiy of seeing the Impact in the USL-1 in 2010.”
Several outlets are reporting that TOA members have been meeting with MLS executives regarding a Second Division for MLS. Our source reports that another level for MLS is not happening any time soon. Here is a comment from that source close to the situation: “Major League Soccer has had conversations with TOA clubs (including the Vancouver Whitecaps) but no arrangement is on the table.”
Enough sources have come forward to definitively report that the City Stars will indeed remain in Cleveland. All report that a letter of intent has been indeed been signed by a group in the Cleveland area. A formal announcement is expected on October 1st. Individuals employed by the league will be notified early (Tuesday) of the decision. We imagine that the full-time staff of the City Stars will be told this information sometime after. We have been told that negotiations between the Cleveland Soccer Foundation and the