New York Cosmos still alive, will play in 2017 NASL season
The fate of the iconic New York Cosmos was finally made clear Saturday, as the club announced it would indeed continue to operate in 2017 and participate in the upcoming North American Soccer League (NASL) season.
Official Club Statement Following USSF Provisional Sanctioning pic.twitter.com/SwDDrErDvh
— New York Cosmos (@NYCosmos) January 7, 2017
The news comes after the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) announced on Saturday that its board of directors voted to grant Division II status to both the USL and NASL for the 2017 season.
"U.S. Soccer will create an internal working group that will work with each league to set a pathway to meet the full requirements for Division II and allow for the larger goal of creating a sustainable future," U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said in an issued statement. "We look forward to another productive year for professional soccer in this country."
The Cosmos were hampered by instability towards the end of the 2016 season, as reports of unpaid players and staff circulated amid whispers that the club was set to fold after six years of operation.
But, as Empire of Soccer reports, the Cosmos are set to operate under new management in 2017, with media magnate Rocco Commisso in line to become the club's new owner.
EoS further reports that the ownership agreement also includes a caveat to pay out any overdue wages to staff and players.
The 2017 NASL season will be contested by only 10 teams, as Minnesota United moves up to Major League Soccer as an expansion franchise and the Ottawa Fury has become the USL affiliate for the Montreal Impact.