Statement tonight from the United Soccer Leagues:

"In response to the Team Owner's Association (TOA) announcement that the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore will be joining a prospective new professional soccer league, United Soccer Leagues (USL) has issued the following statement:

"Both the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore have contractual commitments to USL to play in the 2010 USL First Division (USL-1) season.

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USL News Release� Friday, November 20, 2009

TAMPA. Florida – In response to the Team Owner's Association (TOA) announcement that the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore will be joining a prospective new professional soccer league, United Soccer Leagues (USL) has issued the following statement:

"Both the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Crystal Palace Baltimore have contractual commitments to USL to play in the 2010 USL First Division (USL-1) season.

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This morning, my personal site, the Kartik Report along with partner site Inside Minnesota Soccer was among those breaking the story that Crystal Palace Baltimore and Paul Daglish's Tampa Bay Rowdies were joining the new TOA "breakaway" league . Later it was reported at USL News, � and discussed at Match Fit USA among other places, today it was revealed that Miami FC purchased the trademark for the defunct North American Soccer League. Click to continue reading...

National Sports Center Confirms Move to Create New Pro Soccer Team in Minnesota

Last Friday, Inside Minnesota Soccer reported that the National Sports Center (NSC) and the United Soccer Leagues (USL) would announce early this week that the Minnesota Thunder would become the newest USL-1 team replacing the Minnesota Thunder.

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No, there isn't thing officially saying that MLS is coming to Detroit, and I'm not insinuating that it is.

Today the Pontiac Silverdome was sold for peanuts, really. $583,000 for an 80,000-seat stadium.� The Silverdome certainly has aged, and it hasn't aged well, but it could always be upgraded and when it's all said and done this firm, which at the moment is still anonymous, got it for a steal.

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Official Press Release
USL Statement regarding USL-1
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues issued the following statement regarding the USL First Division in response to the announcement of an application before the United States Soccer Federation for a new Division II Men's Outdoor Professional League submitted, in part, by former USL-1 franchises. Click to continue reading...

In the game of back-and-forth-and-back-again between the United Soccer Leagues and the clubs aligned with the Team Owners Association, it seems that nothing can be said without a response from the...

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Press Release from the United Soccer Leagues:
USL Statement regarding USL First Division
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues issued the following statement regarding the USL First Division in response to the announcement of an application before the United States Soccer Federation for a new Division II Men's Outdoor Professional League submitted, in part, by former USL-1 franchises. Click to continue reading...

Official Press Release
TOA announces formation of new league for 2010
Owners of teams in Atlanta, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver form new league that will debut in 2010
Nov. 10, 2009 – The owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina RailHawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps, formerly of USL-1, together with St. Click to continue reading...

Six ownership groups that were previously part of the USL-First Division have joined forces with St. Louis Soccer United to form a new professional soccer league that will begin play in 2010.

The Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps have joined St.

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Six ownership groups that were previously part of the USL-First Division have joined forces with St. Louis Soccer United to form a new professional soccer league that will begin play in 2010.

The Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps have joined St.

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The Minnesota Thunder have no general manager, no coach, 3 employees and a boat load of bills. Will they survive, and will Dean Johnson ask for help?

Four weeks ago, Inside Minnesota Soccer conducted a phone interview with Minnesota Thunder owner Dean Johnson while he was in Chicago trying to close a business deal.

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The Minnesota Thunder have no general manager, no coach, 3 employees and a boat load of bills. Will they survive, and will Dean Johnson ask for help?

Four weeks ago, Inside Minnesota Soccer conducted a phone interview with Minnesota Thunder owner Dean Johnson while he was in Chicago trying to close a business deal.

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The USL is in Beverton, Oregon this week, home of Nike Soccer, the former owner and new league sponsors of the United Soccer Leagues. The teams are meeting in preparation for the Annual General Meetings that will take place in Tampa Florida in a few weeks.

According to a news article produced by the USL themselves, they are stating that Owners representing Austin, Cleveland, New York, Puerto Rico, Portland, Rochester and Tampa Bay were in attendance as well as individuals representing USL-1 Canadian expansion teams in Edmonton and Ottawa and American teams in Baltimore and Detroit were on hand.

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The USL is in Beverton, Oregon this week, home of Nike Soccer, the former owner and new league sponsors of the United Soccer Leagues. The teams are meeting in preparation for the Annual General Meetings that will take place in Tampa, Florida in a few weeks.

According to a news article produced by the USL themselves, they are stating that Owners representing Austin, Cleveland, New York, Puerto Rico, Portland, Rochester and Tampa Bay were in attendance as well as individuals representing USL-1 Canadian expansion teams in Edmonton and Ottawa and American teams in Baltimore and Detroit were on hand.

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I guess some would look at this as a continuation of the war of press releases between the United Soccer Leagues and the Team Owners Association, but nonetheless it's still news.

According to the press release the USL First Division will move forward next year without the member clubs of the TOA, though Tampa seems to be on-board with the USL despite flirting with TOA over the last few months.

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With talks at a stand-still between the Team Owners Association and Nurock Soccer Holdings, new owners of USL, the chances of a breakaway league led by numerous USL 1 clubs next year is looking more and more likely. Vancouver and Montreal became the latest teams to reportedly sever ties with USL this week, and are part of the group looking to start a new league.

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With talks at a stand-still between the Team Owners Association and Nurock Soccer Holdings, new owners of USL, the chances of a breakaway league led by numerous USL 1 clubs next year is looking more and more likely. Vancouver and Montreal became the latest teams to reportedly sever ties with USL this week, and are part of the group looking to start a new league.

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Canadian Press are reporting that USL league owner, Alek Papadakis is saying that "The negotiations are finished," Papadakis told CKAC.� "We decided to continue our preparation for the season 2010 with the teams which wished to remain with us." Papadakis was referring to the ongoing talk with the Team Owners Association or TOA that have been organized for well over a year and have failed to pay renewal fees to the USL for the 2010 season.

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The next few days promise to be big ones in US professional football. Major League Soccer has proven this summer and into the fall to be the most compelling and competitive first division the English speaking world. The MLS season comes down to the next few nights of football: every match in the final weekend has an impact upon the title race, unlike the final weekends in most European leagues.

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Gansler coaching the team during the 2001 season.
Former Wizards Head Coach and 2000 MLS Cup Champion Bob Gansler has been named to the 2010 Builder Ballot for the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Last season, Gansler finished second behind Bruce Arena on the Builder Ballot by one vote, with no one entering the Hall from the ballot. Click to continue reading...

A team effort; Vancouver has built an organic club culture

In 2010 Major League Soccer will welcome the Philadelphia Union to its ranks as the fifteenth club to join the division, and thus far the club has been bolstered by strong ticket sales. The league office will hope Philadelphia's inclusion will create a strong east coast rivalry with New England, New York, and D.

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ONEONTA, NY (October 19, 2009) – Four highly respected coaches and six nationally recognized administrators have been named to the Hall of Fame's Election 2010 Builder Ballot, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced today. The ten finalists are:

Bruce Arena, current coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy
Chuck Blazer, FIFA Executive Committee Member General Secretary of CONCACAF
Dr.

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ONEONTA, NY (October 19, 2009) – Four highly respected coaches and six nationally recognized administrators have been named to the Hall of Fame's Election 2010 Builder Ballot, the National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced today. The ten finalists are:

Bruce Arena, current coach of the Los Angeles Galaxy
Chuck Blazer, FIFA Executive Committee Member General Secretary of CONCACAF
Dr.

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Things have been quite since the Team Owners Association (TOA) along with members of NuRock Holdings, the new owners of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), met in New York last week. The meetings that took place the week of October 5th and were guided by United States Soccer Federation (USSF) president Sunil Gulati were said by Brian Wellman, president of the Carolina Railhawks to sooth tensions amongst the two sides.

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Things have been quite since the Team Owners Association (TOA) along with members of NuRock Holdings, the new owners of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), met in New York last week. The meetings that took place the week of October 5th and were guided by United States Soccer Federation (USSF) president Sunil Gulati were said by Brian Wellman, president of the Carolina Railhawks to sooth tensions amongst the two sides.

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USL News Release Thursday, October 15, 2009

Cristian Arrieta

MONTREAL, QC – United Soccer Leagues announced Thursday at the USL First Division Championship Series media banquet the winners of the Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. Portland's Gavin Wilkinson was named the USL-1 Coach of the Year with Puerto Rico's Cristian Arrieta earning the Most Valuable Player and Defender of the Year honors.

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USL News Release Thursday, October 15, 2009

Cristian Arrieta

MONTREAL, QC – United Soccer Leagues announced Thursday at the USL First Division Championship Series media banquet the winners of the Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. Portland's Gavin Wilkinson was named the USL-1 Coach of the Year with Puerto Rico's Cristian Arrieta earning the Most Valuable Player and Defender of the Year honors.

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Now that the United States national team has assured itself a place in the 2010 World Cup, the American soccer community can turn its attention back to the domestic game. This season has been unlike any other in any other in recent memory, as both Major League Soccer and the United Soccer Leagues have produced compelling story lines throughout 2009.

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Buncha crazy stuff. Frankie Hejduk has been added to the USMNT roster for the upcoming qualifiers, replacing the injured Clint Dempsey.
Speaking of the national team, Charlie Davies thinks the U.S. can win the World Cup -- that would be the day.
In some slightly surprising Major League Soccer news, Baltimore's mayor Sheila Dixon has asked the Maryland Stadium Authority about potentially building D. Click to continue reading...

Nah, it doesn't have to be that bad. Here are some things to start the week:

• The top division of the United Soccer Leagues is a mess. Carolina, Minnesota and Miami are apparently out of the loop's good graces, having not renewed their contractual obligations to the league. Those teams are no longer linked on USL's list of teams and all of those teams' players were told on Friday that they're free agents (Carolina doesn't necessarily agree with that characterization).

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The Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact will battle for the 2009 USL-1 Championship but the big story around USL is the removal of the Minnesota Thunder, Miami FC Blues and Carolina RailHawks team sites from USLSoccer.com
Brian Quarstad of Inside Minnesota Soccer reported on Friday that USL President Tim Holt had sent emails addressing the players at Minnesota, Miami and Carolina that they had been released from their contracts. Click to continue reading...

Rachel Ullrich reported this morning in the News and Observer for Cary, NC that Railhawks co-owner Brian Wellman insists that the Railhawks players are still under contract with Carolina.

In Ullrichs' article, she also quotes United Soccer League president Tim Holt, although its unclear where the Holt comment came from.

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Rachel Ullrich reported this morning in the News and Observer for Cary, NC that RailHawks co-owner Brian Wellman insists that the RailHawks players are still under contract with Carolina.

In Ullrichs' article, she also quotes United Soccer League president Tim Holt, although it's unclear where the Holt comment came from.

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Assist Leaders – Ricardo Sanchez (Minnesota Thunder) & Wes Knight (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Ricardo Sanchez - Photo by Jermey Olson digitalgopher.net

In his 3rd year in the league and 2nd season with the Thunder, Ricardo Sanchez, the Guadalajara, Mexico native has been honored by the United Soccer Leagues for his league leading 8 assists.

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