New NASL owner expects to see difference in how league operates

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New NASL owner expects to see difference in how league operates

by Ridge Mahoney, September 28th, 2016 6:26PM

The past, present and future of the North American Soccer League has been dissected and discussed during three days of meeting in Atlanta scheduled to conclude Wednesday.

Nothing as dramatic as the hiring of former Argentina and Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino by the local MLS team is expected to come out of this first NASL summit, but soon enough should emerge some sort of game plan for 2017 and beyond.

Perhaps that will also lead to some definitive, workable shape of second-tier professional soccer in North America. But I wouldn’t count on it. Atlanta is a former NASL city that has jumped aboard MLS and in that regard is not alone.

The NASL is adding San Francisco Deltas to its lineup for next year but the status of several other teams is unknown. The relegation of parent club Rayo Vallecano has clouded the future for Rayo OKC, Ottawa is expected to join the USL next year, and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers are beset by severe financial problems.