“If you look at our budget, and the number of fans we have been getting, we have to make some tough decisions,” said Fath. “With our coaches, we had to go in a different direction… We haven’t seen any significant successes on the revenue side.”

FC Edmonton has fired coach Harry Sinkgraven and assistant Hans Schrijver.

On Friday, soon-to-be-former FC Edmonton midfielder Matt Lam issued a statement to The 11, regarding his suspension which has seen him spend the last month of the season getting paid to stay at home.

Matt Lam won’t be back with FC Edmonton this season — and likely won’t be back for next year.

The club announced Thursday — while the first team is on a road trip that will see it face Atlanta on Saturday — that Sinkgraven and Schrijver’s contracts will be extended through to the end of the 2013 season.

Toronto FC is a much bigger club than second-division FC Edmonton but, relatively speaking, FCE’s decision to go 4-4-2 is more stunning than the Reds’ change.

The club revealed Tuesday night that French midfielder Serisay Barthelemy isn’t a trialist, after all. He actually finished a medical and signed a contract before he got on the plane that took the club to Casa Grande, Ariz. on Monday.

FC Edmonton coach Harry Sinkgraven said he has interest in “a couple” of the players he saw put through their paces over the weekend at the NASL Combine.

Director of Soccer Operations Joe Petrone said Thursday that FC Edmonton’s training camp roster is very nearly full — and that there are at max four more spots that can be handed out to hopefuls.

But, Lam won’t be ready when the NASL team reconvenes Jan. 9 after the Christmas break. He will undergo shoulder surgery. He separated his shoulder playing in Japan, and it’s not the first time he’s had an issue there. Petrone said the club isn’t overly concerned about the injury — but the rehab should delay his reunion with his FCE mates till at least mid-February.