The 11 has learned that NASL is about to announce a major change to the league's roster rules — Canadians will now be full domestics league wide.

"It is very disappointing," said Miller. "The club made him what I thought was a very good offer. But a club like ours can't compete with the bigger soccer markets in the United States, and the Canadian dollar kills us."

So, in the latter part of 2016, as the second division of North America was in turmoil, Fath had been unflinching in his mantra; he said over and over that his team solidly backed the North American Soccer League.

So, in 2017, North America will have two Division-2 leagues.

In what is a unique deal, FC Edmonton has received a transfer fee from MLS for the rights to teenage standout Shamit Shome.

In a system without promotion and relegation, why is it important for us to have divisional distinctions for leagues? Really, why do we care so much what a series of suit-and-tie guys deem to be Divisions 1, 2 and 3 in North America?

Peter Wilt admits he’s an unbridled optimist. And there’s no doubt many who will read the coming paragraphs with a “bah” and a “humbug.”

Eddies general manager Jay Ball confirmed Thursday that the team, still months away from training camp, has broken a new record for season tickets sold in a season. Edmonton plays in one of the NASL’s smallest facilities — Clarke Field holds 4,500, and crowds were usually under 3,000 for games last season — but the fact that season ticket holders are renewing, and the team is attracting new subscribers, shows just how distant Edmonton is from the mess in the United States.

The message from FC Edmonton co-owner Tom Fath is the same as it was at this time last week — that he fully expects that there will be an NASL in 2017, and that Eddies will be playing in that league.

Even though he had one year remaining on his contract, FC Edmonton chose not wait to lock down head coach Colin Miller.