Press release this morning: USL ORLANDO TO UNVEIL TEAM NAME, HEAD COACH, AND OWNERSHIP DETAILS MONDAY When: Monday, October 25th, 2010, 2pm Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel Main Ball Room (1st Floor) Downtown Orlando 304 W. Colonial Drive What: USL Orlando will unveil their new team name, head coach, and will also detail the make-up of the clubs majority ownership group Details: Steve Donner and Phil Rawlins from Orlando Sports Holdings will be on hand to announce news that will change the soccer and professional sports landscapes of the City of Orlando. Also on hand will be the club’s first head coach. Following the announcement, a general question and answer session will take place. All three gentlemen will be available for 1-on-1 interviews and photos at the conclusion of the general session.
I heard back from someone on the inside. It is indeed over. Apparently this was a make or break year, and House Park needed to be filled most of the time to make it work. I'm really sad about it. I am feeling like Matt is feeling -- I won't be interested in supporting another Austin team for a long time. For me and my kids, I guess we'll have to make due with a couple of Dynamo games a year. Very sad. Especially since I can't see Orlando as a preferable alternative, but that's another story.
Another rumor that I've heard, again from someone who's been dead on so far, Adrian Heath will be Orlando for this announcement. My conclusion is that he will be the first manager. *#@!
If it was a make-or-break year then: 1) Why was the marketing so non-existent? 2) Why did the coaches show move seemingly at random and without notice to the fans? 3) As I keep harping - the economics of D2 were well known going in. We grew in attendance 25%. Did Phil think we were going to double attendance this year? If so, why?
He's under contract... Given that he had to have turned down other gigs to stay with the Aztex, and those teams have now filled their positions, I doubt he had much option.
All I can say at this point is "What a fecking deluded idiot Phil was." Oh, and to Orlando, don't trust him for a moment.
Don't get me wrong, I am all about "taking care of the family", which is true. However, I'd hoped that if he wasn't going to coach in Austin, he'd join an MLS side.
I believe that is the reason he signed for another season in that he already knew. Plus, I think this might be the first time he had been with a club for more than a year at a time, so maybe his choices are much more limited than you would like to think.
If the Aztex are indeed leaving, this is spot on. What were the expectations? Why were they this way? I think the Aztex have shown reasonable growth and uptake in the community. It seems like they really weren't given enough time to grow. The only part I don't understand is why sign a stadium deal for 3 years? Maybe there is no penalty for vacating the deal. There is only the following termination language in the contract, "10. Termination. AISD and User may terminate this agreement at any time upon breach, by Use, of any part of this agreement."
Because, just like every other fool before him, he thought "soccer's ripe for instantaneous gold!" No god-damned long term plan, despite all his comments. Jezus fecking christ. I get more and more pissed by the minute. I am really looking forward to venting, drinking and crying with you guys tonight.
Kill me now. As if there isn't more drama in this NASL/USL/USSF mess (but expected): BREAKING NEWS: Rhinos return to USL, will play in ‘Pro League’ in 2011
Say what you want about me, but I told you all was not what it seemed when this first came around and I told you you would be disgusted if you knew the underhandness that was used to bring this around. There is one person to blame for soccer not being a mainstay in Austin and it isn't Phil. I will do my due diligence to make sure this guy has nothing to do with a team before I ever support them. I only hope Austin can get some decent soccer with people who really care and give their best and that those with thoughts of grandeur will leave them alone unless they plan on staying for a very long time. All I can say is Karma is a biotch and I am sorry that fans of the sport were caught up in it.
I wondered when you'd come around here gloating. So tell us, then, what person is to blame for this if not Phil?
This is a tough time for a lot of us. Could you please either say who or what you are talking about with specifics, or save it until after we've had some time to process this?
You having to come to our forum at this time of day pretty sums up your character...or lack off. At least our effort & dedication to support a local team here is 100x greater than your effort to criticizes around the Big Soccer forum. Action speaks louder than words. You stay classy RM1006.
I am not gloating. I honestly am sorry that things didn't work out. I know a lot of you put in a lot of time trying to make a go of the team. I remember that happening with a lot of us with the Posse and I know how that felt. At least the Aztex aren't that kind of mess and have class.
Damn. Very sorry for you guys. I have an uneasy feeling that us fans in South Florida may be in trouble too. NASL has a shaky at best outlook to be sanctioned and I doubt Traffic crawls back to USL. Dammit being a D2 supporter is tough.
Just as classy as you Native Texan. I said I was sorry. Maybe the 'I told you so' attitude isn't appropriate at this time and I do apologize for starting it off that way. But, you all pretty much acted like I had no clue and I was just saying I did and do have much more of a clue than most of you can imagine. So once again sorry about your team, but I am not saying much more than most of you are. The team is leaving and the departure and what was said in the past year just don't add up to what is going on now. Hopefully someone with huge connections and a desire to see Austin have a great soccer team will come along.
Looking at RM's past posts, he's said before that he doesn't like Bobby Murphy. I don't know why, and I don't know how an assistant coach could be possible for this kind of business decision.
Chaps, I've just read the news. I'm sorry for how all of this turned out as you all seem to me to be fans in the truest sense and people Stoke fans would consider part of the family with your loyal support of the Aztexs and Stoke. All the best, Lee.