A-League

Teams in Syracuse, Calgary and Edmonton cease operations; MISL folds Monterrey.

The Syracuse Salty Dogs are not the first American professional team to fold while Laurie Calloway was serving as coach. -- Syracuse Salty Dogs web site photo --

TAMPA, Fla. (Wednesday, October 27, 2004) -- The A-League, the second division of United States professional men's soccer, announced that three of its 16 teams have folded.

Teams from Syracuse, N.Y., and the Canadian cities of Edmonton and Calgary will not compete in 2005.

"It is very unfortunate to lose these three markets, which we feel have great potential," said Tim Holt, vice president of the parent United Soccer League, in a press release. "We still strongly believe Calgary, Edmonton and Syracuse have a future in USL; however, it was not in the short-term interest of USL and its other member franchises to continue in those markets for 2005."

Today's A-League announcement follows word from the Major Indoor Soccer League Friday saying the Monterrey (Mexico) Fury was being folded, the second MISL franchise to be discontinued since the end of last season.

The USL-operated Edmonton FC was to replace the Aviators who discontinued operations at the close of the 2004 season. Despite inquiries from several parties about obtaining rights to the franchise, no group put together a financial package to meet A-League requirements.

"We had some discussions and interest from parties inside the market and out. However, we felt an attempt to get Edmonton back into the league for 2005 would be premature," Holt told Slam Sports. "We will not be inclined to ask Edmonton back into the league until we are fully convinced that an ownership group would have a three-year plan -- minimum -- that can be backed up by tangible financial interests and have the use of an appropriate facility. Any of the groups that are interested now don't have all of that."

The Calgary Mustangs failed to meet the advance requirements for the 2005 season and the league discontinued the franchise Friday.

"The business structure for our franchises is closely tied to clubs having local rivals as travel partners," Holt said in the press release. "I think the difficulties experienced in both Calgary and Edmonton last season compounded one another and, unfortunately, it was not prudent for the Calgary team to operate in 2005 without a club in Edmonton."

The Syracuse Pro Sports Group LLC and USL blamed a bad lease with P&C Stadium, home to the minor-league baseball SkyChiefs for the Salty Dogs' demise despite increases in attendance during their sophomore season.

"We've spent the better part of six months talking with different individuals and organizations to come in and purchase the club, or infuse the proper amount of capital into it," Doug Spolyar, Syracuse Pro Sports manager and chief operating officer for the Salty Dogs, told the Syracuse Post-Standard.

The current group of investors has "gone as far as they can go," he added

Syracuse lost to the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference final. "It doesn't get any less disappointing," Salty Dogs coach Laurie Calloway told the Post-Standard. The 57-year-old native of England has coached in the U.S. for 25 years and endured three other teams folding during that span.

The remaining Eastern Conference teams are the Atlanta Silverbacks, Charleston Battery, Montreal Impact, Puerto Rico Islanders, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Raging Rhinos, Toronto Lynx and Virginia Beach Mariners. The Western Conference currently still has the Milwaukee Wave United, Minnesota Thunder, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps.

The MISL ended its Monterrey franchise three games into the 2004-05 season, but days before the Fury was to begin play.

Monterrey "has been repeatedly advised that they have not been in compliance with multiple terms of the management agreement and that the agreement has been terminated, effective immediately," said a release on the MISL web site. "This termination decision was precipitated by a long series of noncompliance and disregard for the obligations and responsibilities of an MISL member club.

On September 14, the Dallas Sidekicks, an original MISL team, ceased operations before what would have been their 20th season.

The MISL will have eight teams for the 2004-05 season. The Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Force and Philadelphia Kixx comprise the Eastern Division. The Chicago Storm, Milwaukee Wave and St. Louis Steamers make up the Central Divsision. The Kansas City Comets and San Diego Sockers are alone in the Western Division.