Unconfirmed: Ottawa Fury to become Impact's USL affiliate. FC Montreal to be shut down

[shermanator]

A few sources are tweeting that FC Montreal will be shut down, and that the Ottawa Fury will become the Impact's USL affiliate. 

The Fury have tweeted that they have "big news" to announce at 1 PM EST.

 

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

Looks like the 1pm thing was signing an Irish player called Shane McEleney

http://www.ottawafuryfc.com/news/2016/12/05/fury-fc-add-irish-defender-shane-mceleney-

[mianjo]

The 1pm announcement was a player announcement   http://www.ottawafuryfc.com/news/201...hane-mceleney-

[masster]

Wouldn't be too surprising if this happens. FC Montreal is probably one of the teams that hurts the USL application for Div 2 status. They don't even charge for tickets. The USL brass said teams would have to step up or they wouldn't be in the league...and voila!!

[shermanator]

I guess we stay tuned over the next little while to see what actually happens. This offseason has been brutal and we're only a few months in.

[Levi Oakey]

Nothing wrong with signing an affiliate deal. I think FC Montreal was on it's way to getting scuppered no matter what. Some USL clubs have signed affiliate deals with multiple MLS clubs over the years. Just because you are an affiliate one year doesn't mean you plan to be the next.

[Ansem]

FC Montreal no longer playing in USL doesn't surprise me. With USL going after D2 sanction, FC Montreal doesn't fit in USL plans in terms of requirements. However, FC Montreal should have been move to the PLSQ D3 league (which could be the their plan). OFFC makes much more sense for Montreal than FC Montreal

[Greatest Cockney Rip Off]

Am I the only one who thinks If they become montreal's affiliate, they shouldn't be in the voyageurs cup?

 

[Ansem]

You're right, they should be excluded

[Alex D]

If true this is awful news. We have so few pro teams to begin with, we can't afford to almagamate any. 

[shermanator]

I agree with @Alex D. If this ends up happening, then this is really disappointing of the Fury. Just over a year ago they were perceived as one of the better clubs in NASL - successful on the pitch and in the stands. Self relegating to USL (or maybe just abandoning the ship as it sinks) during NASL instability is one thing, but shuttering your academy, and becoming the Impact's farm team is another. 

I feel bad for the Bytown Boys and Stony Monday Riot right now. To me, the Fury's current situation is not much better than the Fury's PDL days.

[Grizzly]

Probably a stop gap measure until the CPL but disappointing for both Impact and especially Fury fans. I wonder what type of attendance they will get as a USL team that is an Impact affiliate. I suspect it will be a pretty empty Landsdowne Stadium next year.

By the way, FC Montreal did charge admission but it was only $5 and Impact season ticket holders got in for free.

[shermanator]

More information on the situation, including what options the players have is below:

 

 

[lazlo_80]

I mentioned it in the CPL thread to but I think for Ottawa fans this would be seen as a positive, no? It looks like this is more of a simple loan agreement between two clubs moreso than Montreal actually fielding a farm team in Ottawa.

[mianjo]

Tryout @OttawaFuryFC spot not guaranteed as have @ 15players on roster.

Interpreting that i read The Fury already have 15 players signed, (i know they have 14 signed)  you can all go and tryout for  the Fury and if any of you are wanted by the Fury then we the Impact will loan you to them.

[Kibby]

I need to hear the Fury say something before i can decide how to take this.

If we have full control over who we take on loan, and who gets playing time 

Then no problem its just a loan agreement situation really, outside the optics.

Unless it screws V-cup for us, which are the games i look forward to the most.. or its a sign to come re: not joining CPL.. then i'm upset.

[BringBackTheBlizzard]

In the past the Impact preferred the extra travel associated with the latter day CSL to the more local PLSQ format, so this is probably a CPL team waiting to happen, if the various multimillionaires involved can compromise and cooperate. The history of Canadian soccer suggests that's a very big if, however, especially when Joey Saputo is involved.

[CDNFootballer]

3 hours ago, Kibby said:

I need to hear the Fury say something before i can decide how to take this.

If we have full control over who we take on loan, and who gets playing time 

Then no problem its just a loan agreement situation really, outside the optics.

Unless it screws V-cup for us, which are the games i look forward to the most.. or its a sign to come re: not joining CPL.. then i'm upset.

Impact players on their affiliate will be expected to play so lineup decisions for Ottawa Fury will reflect that, a loss of independence for the Fury. Hopefully 4 or less players will only be on loan and not the full 8 the MLS-USL agreement allows for as an affiliate.

 

Had hoped they would stay an independent but thought they may become a minor league affiliate for an MLS franchise with the cost cutting they were doing.

[BCM]

On 12/6/2016 at 2:51 AM, masster said:

Wouldn't be too surprising if this happens. FC Montreal is probably one of the teams that hurts the USL application for Div 2 status. They don't even charge for tickets. The USL brass said teams would have to step up or they wouldn't be in the league...and voila!!

 

On 12/6/2016 at 3:49 AM, Ansem said:

FC Montreal no longer playing in USL doesn't surprise me. With USL going after D2 sanction, FC Montreal doesn't fit in USL plans in terms of requirements. However, FC Montreal should have been move to the PLSQ D3 league (which could be the their plan). OFFC makes much more sense for Montreal than FC Montreal

This and this. FC Montreal was an (at times embarrassing) amateur club in a professional league. They did the league no favours. Disappointing for Fury though, who may now have to be kicked out of the V-Cup. 

[Ansem]

http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2016/12/08/le-parcours-du-montreal-fc-dans-la-usl-est-termine

Journal de Montréal is reporting the same thing.

http://www.tvasports.ca/2016/12/08/le-fc-montreal-ferme-ses-portes?utm_medium=cxense&utm_source=journaldemontreal.com&utm_campaign=reco#cxrecs_s

Same for TVA sports

Hopefully FC Montreal has enough players willing to play in PLSQ.

Fury will most likely be out of V-Cup

[Kibby]

1 hour ago, CDNFootballer said:

Impact players on their affiliate will be expected to play so lineup decisions for Ottawa Fury will reflect that, a loss of independence for the Fury. Hopefully 4 or less players will only be on loan and not the full 8 the MLS-USL agreement allows for as an affiliate.

 

Had hoped they would stay an independent but thought they may become a minor league affiliate for an MLS franchise with the cost cutting they were doing.

Other supporters of affiliate clubs have said the opposite about who controls playing time.  We'll only be loaned some players probably 1 to 4.  If what you are saying is the case then im cancellin my season tickets.

I can't see how IMFC would have any control over any of that.  They don't own the Fury and the  Fury already has 15 players.. including many starters, if better Fury players have to sit so some 19year old shitter from Montreal who isn't as good plays then this is bullshit

[BradMack]

Tabla to Ottawa I guess?

[shermanator]

If there is a silver lining in this whole situation, it would be FC Montreal joining PLSQ (if it happens). Instantly strengthens that league.

[Ruffian]

4 hours ago, BradMack said:

Tabla to Ottawa I guess?

This was my first question. We need him to keep developing and preferably keep good ties to the Canadian soccer system.

[jpg75]

4 hours ago, BradMack said:

Tabla to Ottawa I guess?

I was hoping more like "Tabla for MLS Rookie of the Year".