<a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ussf.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ussf.jpg"></a></figure></div>As USL Pro is moving forward with its realignment and scheduling, the NASL has taken some huge step backwards.&nbsp; On Wednesday, A.C. St. Louis announced it was ceasing operations, depriving the fledgling NASL of a critical metropolitan area. &nbsp;But even worse news came right before the weekend, as Inside Minnesota Soccer reported the USSF was unhappy with NASL’s progress so far and voted to remove the league’s provisional second division status.
First, let us mourn the loss of A.C. St. Louis, and use it as a warning to those start-up clubs with dreams of MLS. &nbsp;Owner Jeff Cooper had the dream of bringing an MLS club to the city and after being denied an expansion franchise in 2008 and 2009, he began A.C. St. Louis in order to eventually bring them up to MLS. &nbsp;Despite signing Steve Ralston and hiring Claude Anelka as head coach, the team finished only 11th overall in the USSF D2 and never resolved its financial difficulties. &nbsp;It is especially sad considering the city also lost its women’s pro team last year, and a metropolitan area which boasts <a href="http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_St._Louis#Supporter.27s_Groups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six supporters groups</a> will be without soccer.
More troubling is the future of the NASL in general.&nbsp; The NASL does have the option of appealing the USSF’s preliminary decisions to deny second division status at the USSF annual General Meeting in February, and it would seem like that is the league’s best option.&nbsp; Failure to be certified, period, would subject the league to FIFA penalties including preventing the players from playing for their country’s national team.&nbsp; If NASL addressed the USSF concerns somewhat, they could also receive third division status, but with USL Pro already certified and moving forward with their season this would be very unlikely.&nbsp; Most likely if the league cannot get its act in order it will fold, depriving eight cities of professional soccer.
It looks like the impetus for this action was the financial instability of the league that went beyond the A.C. St. Louis situation.&nbsp; According to the reports, the Carolina Railhawks have been facing serious financial trouble and have sought assistance from Traffic Sports USA, a sports management company that<a href="http:\/\/www.carynews.com/2011/01/22/26691/hawks-clipped-ussf-pulls-league.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> already controls three NASL clubs</a>.
Regardless of the reason, this is a major setback for American soccer.&nbsp; I mentioned in my USL Pro post that American soccer needs a stable soccer pyramid to not only provide an avenue for talent development, but to grow the game in areas not covered by MLS.&nbsp; That stability was not there last season and it looks again to not be here this season.&nbsp; The USSF needs to determine right now if the NASL can be a stable league worthy of second division status and if not how they can immediately stabilize the soccer pyramid.&nbsp; Otherwise the development of American soccer will continue to stagnate.

NASL Loses Club and Sanction - World Soccer Talk

NASL Loses Club and Sanction

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=St. Louis Athletica&amp;iid=8647749" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
Athletic Club of Saint Louis is on the verge of folding its North American Soccer League and Women’s Professional Soccer clubs, sources have confirmed. The club’s weakened cash reserves may not allow them to make their next payroll obligations, and despite ongoing conversations amongst the United States Soccer Federation, NASL, and WPS, no plan is currently in place which will allow the teams to complete their 2010 seasons.
The situation came to light when AC St. Louis failed to make a regular payment to the NASL league office. Each club within NASL periodically sends money to the league office to cover the owner-operated league’s operating costs. Upon investigation, the NASL learned the Jeff Cooper-led group did not have the cash reserves to meet the obligation or its future operating expenses.
The United States Soccer Federation has been notified of the circumstances in St. Louis and is in contact with the NASL and WPS, attempting to find a solution that will allow the teams to continue through the 2010 season. As of Thursday afternoon, those attempts were ongoing.
AC St. Louis’s next payroll obligation comes due Friday, May 21. Efforts were being made as of Thursday afternoon to try and meet that obligation. According to sources, Saint Louis Athletica must meet payroll the following week.
AC St. Louis is prepared to fold its teams before the end of the season; however, in recognition of the importance of the St. Louis market and its teams, USSF has been working with the leagues to try and keep both clubs in operation.
Women’s Professional Soccer in continuing to monitor the state of Saint Louis Athletica; however, WPS was unavailable for comment at the time of this submission.
The North American Soccer League referred all requests regarding St. Louis to the USSF, otherwise declining comment on the story.

AC St. Louis, Saint Louis Athletica On the Brink of Folding - World Soccer Talk

AC St. Louis, Saint Louis Athletica On the Brink of Folding

<div id="attachment_7033" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="http:\/\/www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/st-louis-arch-address.jpg"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a>AC St. Louis Fills A Big Gap</div>
Professional Soccer has often been a spottingly available product across North America, and MLS, as a Premier Division, cannot fill the gaps by itself.&nbsp; This is where USL has often filled in, in the past, although USL has often been perceived as small market, for good reason in many cases. The reformed NASL aims to change that.
The North American Soccer League 2.0 (Special Edition, Director’s Cut, etc) has stepped up where USL had failed previously.&nbsp; While many of the teams in the NASL remain small market teams, there has been some significant progress made, specifically with regards to the new clubs entering the league (St. Louis, Atlanta, Tampa and a jumped up Baltimore).
Major League Soccer and USL had previously failed to succeed, or even enter, in certain major markets in the United States and Canada. In all of the cases of folded teams, we have numerous examples in the wasteland which is the southeastern United States, and of course, “Western Canada” (read as Alberta).&nbsp; In the case of non-starters, we have St. Louis, among others.&nbsp; But regardless of case, the reason for failure has largely been due to poor business plans.
It seems that NASL seeks to learn from the mistakes made by both the MLS and the USL.
Evidence can be found with the new club in Edmonton, known at this point as FC Edmonton (a name which I hope they keep, it has a nice, crisp feel to it).
Where the Drillers have failed before, FC Edmonton seeks to succeed. It seems the ownership and management understand the need for a successful team in what could be considered a barren wasteland for the beautiful game. They certainly have shown an understanding for the Prairie psyche, and are establishing a youth academy in order to reach out to talented youngsters across the three provinces. What is most promising is what seems to be the commitment to winning, and the acquisition of pedigreed coaching in Dutch-Canadian Manager Dwight Lodeweges.
Other smart moves taken by NASL can be found with AC St. Louis.
It has already been documented on this website that AC St. Louis has acquired Steve Ralston from the Revolution, in both a player and coaching role, but one cannot emphasize the importance of such an acquisition. The talented player will undoubtedly be important in what could be a rocky start for the expansion side. Even more important though, is his role as a coach as well as a player. It is little secret that once players get over the hump of 30 years of age, their abilities start to decline quite quickly.&nbsp; Ralston is well over that hump and will be making the transition from player to coach, and potentially manager one day.
Essentially, NASL (AC St. Louis in particular) is making an investment for the future in this acquisition, and sending a clear message that they’re serious about sticking around.
We can also talk about the Florida market and the attempt by NASL to lock it up with teams in Tampa and Miami. One should note that MLS has left this place a soccer wasteland.
Essentially, NASL has filled the gap of pro soccer in mid-major markets in North America. This will allow for more professional opportunities for youth across the continent and allow for longer term development. Why is it able to succeed where USL has failed? Simple branding. The North American Soccer League is a brand which remains one of the strongest in North American football and it will play an important part in filling a major gap in the availability of association football in North America.
In my next piece, I will discuss the importance of capping MLS at 20 teams and which markets should fill the final positions.

NASL Stepping Up to Fill Important Gap - World Soccer Talk

NASL Stepping Up to Fill Important Gap

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Leagues: MLS

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NASL Stepping Up to Fill Important Gap