NASL yesterday announced that it has "parted ways" with Commissioner Bill Peterson, effective immediately, according to Clayton Freeman of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. NASL Dir of Business Development & Legal Affairs Rishi Sehgal "will serve as interim commissioner." A search process has "already begun to identify Peterson’s long-term successor." Peterson had "been in charge of the league" since late '12. The move "comes in the wake of Friday’s announcement by the U.S. Soccer Federation to confirm the NASL’s second-division status." NASL "did not specify reasons for the change" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 1/10). SOCCER AMERICA's Paul Kennedy wrote NASL often had an "antagonistic relationship with MLS and the USL, as well as U.S. Soccer." NASL will "move forward" with an attempt to "stabilize the situation" with Jacksonville Armada FC, which needs a new owner (SOCCERAMERICA.com, 1/9). Meanwhile, Mediacom Communications Founder & CEO Rocco Commisso today officially agreed to acquire a majority stake in the NASL N.Y. Cosmos, becoming the team's new Chair (Cosmos).
WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT? In Ft. Lauderdale, Gary Curreri reports the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers "likely won't take the field" for the upcoming NASL season. Team sources also "confirmed almost all staff was laid off on Dec. 31 and few players remain under contract." Several former employees have been "unable to cash settlement checks from the club." The Strikers have been part of NASL since their reboot in '11. Strikers ownership "recently has been in talks" with Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. Sources "confirmed the league vetoed the sale because the asking price was too low and it would devalue the other clubs in the league." A source said that the estimated "going rate" for a NASL club is roughly $5M (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 1/10). In Miami, Michelle Kaufman notes Miami FC "will stay" in NASL -- "at least for now," and NASL will "carry on with eight teams this season." Miami FC CEO Sean Flynn was "relieved and 'extremely excited' that the league will live on." Flynn: "There are a number of investment groups interested in joining our league, and I feel very confident we will get back to 12 teams, or more, and come out with a bright future" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/10).
