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.
“We’re trying to set up our own league and that process is still ongoing,” Bob Lenarduzzi, president of the Whitecaps told Metronews.ca. Details of what that league would specifically look like have yet to be revealed, but the intentions of clubs like Montreal and Vancouver is to set up a new league, approved by USSF that they would have more control over.
Vancouver is set to join MLS in 2011 and wouldn't benefit from taking a year off before becoming a part of MLS. Their departure (and Montreal's) have yet to be confirmed, but speculation continues to swirl about a new league. The whole situation is much more about the boardroom politics than about soccer, as the aggrieved owners want to have a bigger say in the league.
What do you think about the latest news of Vancouver and Montreal splitting off from USL? Surprised? Don't particularly care? What would another league look like?
Share your thoughts below.