The N.Y. Cosmos have notified the NASL they "will cease operations," and the club has "paid all staff and players and notified all players and have been released," according to a source cited by soccer writer Pedro Heizer. Additionally, the source indicated that the NASL "is rumored to be closing, with the remaining teams making exit plans" to join the rival USL "as early as this upcoming season" (TWITTER.com, 11/29). Meanwhile, CBS Sports Radio's Peter Schwartz cited a source as saying that a decision on the team's future "will not be made until after" NASL's official meetings, which are taking place today and tomorrow (TWITTER.com, 11/29). BIG APPLE SOCCER's Michael Lewis reported the Cosmos had "taken a wait-and-see attitude on which direction the league will take before deciding to move forward for next season." Cosmos Chair Seamus O'Brien yesterday said, "We're just waiting to see which path the league takes and what the future of the league is." Lewis noted the 12-team NASL has "lost three teams" for '17, which would put the league "below the number of teams needed to receive Division II sanctioning by U.S. Soccer." While the Cosmos have "had the most successful team in the NASL the past four seasons, they likely would not want to play at the Division 3 pro level at this time" (BIGAPPLESOCCER.com, 11/28).
ISSUES TO DEAL WITH: EMPIREOFSOCCER.com's Dave Martinez noted the Cosmos "suffered a fourth straight year of declining attendance and dwindling viability in the market" despite winning their third league cup in four seasons. A similar situation last season "meant steep budget cuts to the front office and the team roster." This year, those cuts will "go even deeper, bringing to question the team’s long term viability." The day after Thanksgiving, the majority of the Cosmos front office staff were "put on furlough, with numbers ranging from 60-80% of staff." The furlough is "expected to last one week, with the largest cuts happening in the ticket sales department." Payroll has also "been an issue, with top-to-bottom delays in weekly salaries across the board" (EMPIREOFSOCCER.com, 11/28).
