FC Edmonton already looking to add players for 2014 campaign

With a few players getting over the flu and a nasty wind whipping across Clarke Stadium, FC Edmonton ended its training session early Thursday.

For some players, it might be the last time they play on the turf. The Eddies leave for south Florida on Friday, and will face the Fort Lauderdale Strikers on Saturday on the final day of the NASL regular season.

Coach Colin Miller wants to see the Eddies build on two strong performances, a 2-1 home over Tampa Bay and a 1-1 draw on the road to the New York Cosmos, who later went on the wrap up the fall-season title.

“Absolutely, there’s still a lot on the line for us,” said Miller. “We have a chance to move up the standings against a good Fort Lauderdale side. I had a chance to look at the videos of their matches against Atlanta and Minnesota, and no disrespect meant, this is a different team than it was in the spring. They will be a difficult team to beat.”

The Strikers finished dead last in the spring season. San Antonio has already clinched the, ahem, wooden spoon for the fall campaign.

But, once the Eddies get back, Miller will conduct a series of one-on-one meetings with his players, to let them know exactly where they stand.

“We are in good shape,” he said. “We are already in negotiations with some players who were part of our core this year, we’ll have one or two out of contract and I would think there may be one or two players who will be released next week.”

But Northern Ireland international Robert Garrett’s fate is already sealed. Not by FC Edmonton’s choice, but his loan spell from Belfast club, Linfield FC, will expire when the NASL campaign comes to a close.

“He’s got to go back,” said Miller. “That’s out of our hands.”

Miller said the club is already in advanced negotiations with one or two players, but he wouldn’t reveal the identity of either of them. But he said deals with the two new players in question could be close.