Don Garber will address the "Leaders in Football" conference

Over the next two days, many of soccer's most influential executives from around the world will meet in London, England for the annual "Leaders in Football" conference. Included in that group are three representatives from the United States: Don Garber, MLS Commissioner and CEO; Sunil Gulati, USSF President; and Tim Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG.

The worldwide credit crunch is taking its toll on football clubs around the world, and it has prompted Spanish side Valencia to admit that they may have to part ways with David Villa. "Whatever offer comes in we will have to study it although the idea is not to have to sell David Villa or David Silva," said Valencia's sporting vice-president Fernando Gomez Colomer.

Iñigo Díaz de Cerio was unveiled as a Athletic Bilbao player today after his Real Sociedad contract officially ended yesterday and has signed on for 4 years with a 50 million euro buy out clause. The player thanked Athletic Club for trusting him after having been sidelined for most of the 2008-9 season due to an injury.

Tripp Mickle of the Sports Business Journal is out with a hard look at MLS season ticket renewals for 2010. Although three teams (Dallas, Kansas City and San Jose), didn't provide numbers, the rest of the franchises did report their rates of renewal for 2010. Not surprisingly, Seattle and TFC lead the pack with more than 90% renewal rates.