SECOND TEARS

Turmoil in the NASL

Tampa Bay – before reverting to their original name in 2011, once Edwards had acquired rights to the iconic name.

Canadian side Ottawa Fury have also confirmed their departure from the NASL despite only joining the division two years ago.

The Fury replaced an amateur club of the same name, which played in the fourth tier – the USL’s Professional Development League – between 2005 and 2013.

Those two departures, along with Minnesota United’s transfer to the MLS, leaves the NASL with just ten clubs.

The San Francisco Deltas have agreed to become a member of the NASL from next term, but two franchises remaining in the NASL have uncertain futures. Florida side Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Rayo OKC are both financially troubled and so if both sides go bankrupt, then the United States’ second tier could be left with only nine sides. NASL commissioner Bill Peterson has maintained that the league is not in danger. “The NASL operates in an environment where owners are free to take their clubs wherever they choose,” he said.“All we can do is acknowledge that reality and move forward with our business, which is exactly what we’re doing right now.We’ve never had a stronger and more unified group of owners who are committed to the league’s model, its structure and its long-term vision.” The defections have seemingly not helped the league, but Peterson has since revealed that the NASL remains committed to growth,“with a half-dozen serious expansion discussions in progress”. With each league in the United States run by independent organisations and having different commissioners overseeing them, it is highly unlikely for the leagues to unite and create a pyramid that includes promotion and relegation. But with so many clubs on the brink of extinction and others looking to change leagues, maybe it is time for US Soccer to look at ways for clubs to change divisions without having to negotiate a move and to support some of the smaller clubs.