But first there we gotta go back into the TOA-USL talk that we’ve been going around and around with for the last few weeks. Reports tonight suggest the TOA and their clubs could very well soon be forming their own league, even as soon as TOMORROW.

Carolina RailHawks president Brian Wellman confirmed in the link above that he along with the rest of the TOA group would be submitting an application to the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to form a new league. They may even be doing it as soon as tomorrow. The new league would consist of Minnesota , Miami FC, Montreal, Vancouver and Carolina from the USL and three other new clubs from Tampa Bay, St. Louis, and Atlanta.

Some folks are saying that other owners from the USL could even join them down the road too. I mean if you look at it, if these clubs bolt town tomorrow to form their own league that could or could not be linked to MLS, you have to wonder what those in Rochester and Charleston are thinking.

Wellman also suggests this new league could also play on the favored FIFA calendar, meaning they’d play through the winter. Honestly hearing something like that may just be pandering to fans that want a FIFA style calender here in the states. Sure they have a few markets that would be fine to play in the winter but I don’t see games in Vancouver, Montreal and Minnesota going over well during the cold months.

The USL also came out and said in regards to this news that no talks have actually took place here but they are just being patient with this group.

There is also the talk that Don Garber is in the TOA’s corner for this one. To that news you just have to wonder. I’m still in the court that thinks a MLS-2 won’t happen anytime soon but the possibility of a new league has to have some kind of connections with MLS to succeed I would think. I’m sure more information will come out of this all very soon though.

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Payne Fined For Comments Then Apologizes

Link

Was it really wrong for the league to fine DC’s Kevin Payne over some comments about the current play by some teams in this league (go here for those comments)? In a way the fine was okay but at the end of the day it just shows how much of a PR makeover this league needs. You really can’t blame a guy for being honest about the way a couple clubs play. The truth hurts but move on with it, DC failed to reach the playoffs and he was just bitching.