Commissioner: NASL does not want to be an affiliated developmental league By Steven Sandor Posted on January 24, 2013 45 0 4,884 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter SONY DSC Bill Peterson NASL commissioner Bill Peterson doesn’t believe the new USL-MLS partnership will affect his league at all. “We’re concerned about building our business, connecting with fans and having some very competitive games,” said Peterson, who runs what’s officially recognized as North America’s second division. On Wednesday, MLS announced a partnership with the third-division USL Pro. MLS teams can affiliate with USL Pro teams, start their own USL Pro affiliates, or keep their current reserve setups, with games scheduled against USL Pro teams. Canadian Soccer Association President Victor Montagliani has stated that if the three Canadian MLS teams launch affiliates in Canada, they would be seen as part of those clubs’ structures and would not be sanctioned as Div. 3 clubs in this country. Peterson said that NASL does not have an interest in being an affiliated minor or developmental league. “They (USL and MLS) are sophisticated people,” said Peterson. “They know what’s good for them. And for them, they decided to change into a model that’s more of a developmental league. Our teams are in it to win it. What they’ve done here is create a developmental league, or more like baseball, a minor-league system. We don’t want to change course for our players, fans. For us, we want excellent competition, and our priority is not to be a developmental league, but a league where you want to win.” He warned that players who are signed to low-end entry-level MLS deals may also find their options are even more limited than before. Instead of being waived and having the chance to find work, they could end up being stashed in USL, with no hope of getting back to the top tier. “From the MLS side of things, I can see why this good for them. Each team can have more players under contract. They can hold on to more players. But, for the players, this limits their free-market options, when they find that they have been relegated to playing for a minor-league team.” NASL will launch its new split-season format in 2013. The spring season will begin with seven teams. The expansion New York Cosmos will join for the fall session. The Puerto Rico Islanders, who dropped out to reorganize their operations, may or may not be back for the fall session. The winners of the spring and fall leagues will face each other in the Soccer Bowl. “Puerto Rico is making some progress,” said Peterson. “It’s going to come down to timing. It’s a question if they can get everything done in time, before we release the fall schedule. If they don’t get it together, they will be pushed back to next spring.” Peterson didn’t say this — but there is a feeling around NASL that not too many tears would be shed if the Islanders didn’t come back. The other teams would be freed of their most expensive, punishing road trip of the season. And, with Indianapolis, Ottawa, New York Cosmos and the D.C. suburbs all coming into the league over the next two seasons, losing one distant market is a tradeoff many would be willing to make.