Soccer Franchise Notes: St. Louis Still Eyeing MLS Expansion Club

Cooper Says St. Louis Does Not Have Enough Money To Satisfy MLS At This Point

WE WANT NEXT: USL Montreal Impact Technical Dir Nick De Santis "welcomed the news about the Vancouver Whitecaps joining [MLS] as a big step in the growth of the sport in Canada," and he said that the Impact "merits an opportunity to take its game to the next tier." De Santis: "It's great to see another Canadian market get to the highest level of soccer. It goes to show clubs like Vancouver, Toronto and ourselves belong at the highest level." De Santis said it is a "bit disappointing" that the Impact is not competing in MLS. De Santis: "But in the end, I believe the club will always work to better itself in every aspect, be it on the field or in administration" (Montreal GAZETTE, 3/20).

CHANGE AT THE TOP? In London, Michael Walker reports EPL club Sunderland is "nearing a change in ownership that could see" 51% of the club pass into the hands of Dallas-based equity firm Lone Star Funds co-Founder Ellis Short, who in September became the largest shareholder in the club. In Sunderland's "ideal world," Short, who has invested around US$36.1M so far, would "deliver his verdict before May." Sunderland Chair Niall Quinn said that if Short agrees to the increased investment, Sunderland "will be able to think about re-establishing itself as a solid top 10 club." Walker notes Short's commitment is "only one part of the equation" that Quinn must solve, as the other is EPL "survival and increased attendances at the Stadium of Light next season" (London INDEPENDENT, 3/20). Quinn said that a "financially committed and engaged Short 'almost gives us an anti-relegation clause next year,' yet it is not something that can be taken for granted" (LONDON TIMES, 3/20).

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