Their fans don’t plan to let the Silverbacks go quietly.
The team as an NASL franchise may not be in Atlanta with the season starts next year. The owners are considering several options, including selling the franchise.
But several fan groups are planning a rally at 6:45 p.m. in Centennial Park on Wednesday to show the team’s owners, potential new owners and NASL officials that they want the team to stay in Atlanta.
“This rally is intended to show any potential investor and the NASL that the Silverbacks are a worthwhile investment, that they have passionate fans, and to encourage them to act to save the team,” a note on the website run by Terminus Legion, a soccer supporter’s group based in Atlanta, said.
NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson said he wants the franchise to remain in Atlanta.
“We appreciate the efforts of all of the Silverbacks fans that are showing support for their club,” said through a spokesman. “They are great fans, and always have been. As we’ve stated, we’re trying to work through an ownership restructuring. Our first priority is to continue to play professional soccer in Atlanta, and we’re doing everything we can to make sure that happens in 2015.”
Silverbacks co-owner Boris Jerkunica hasn’t responded to numerous emails asking for a comment about the rally.
The Silverbacks have mostly struggled since joining the NASL in 2011. They finished last that year and seventh out of eight teams in 2012. They qualified for the NASL Championship game in 2013 by winning the Spring season, but followed that by finishing seventh in the fall and falling to New York in the championship game. They finished last out of 10 teams in the combined spring and fall seasons this year.
The franchise has failed to turn a profit despite having one of the lowest payrolls in NASL. It now faces competition with Arthur Blank’s MLS team beginning play in 2017.
U.S. vs Colombia: Atlanta's Sean Johnson was one of 25 players selected by Jurgen Klinsmann to participate in Friday's exhibition game against Colombia in London. The team will play Ireland in Dublin next week.
Johnson was named Chicago’s MVP after starting 33 games and making 96 saves. He had a goals-against average of 1.48. He recently trained with Hull City in the Premier League. He has four caps with the U.S. men’s national team.
The rest of the roster:
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Hamburg), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes).
MLS calendar: For those who are new to MLS and have a growing interest related to the Atlanta franchise, the league released its offseason schedule last week.
These dates are important because they are some of the ways that Darren Eales and his staff will build Atlanta’s roster.
These dates won’t affect Atlanta this year, but will give you an idea what to expect in 2016 and early 2017. Important dates to note for this year and next:
Dec. 7: MLS Cup final.
Dec. 10: Expansion draft (Atlanta will have keen interest in this when it occurs in 2016 because they will also be competing with Los Angeles).
Dec. 10: Trade window at end of expansion draft opens and closes a day later and waiver draft opens.
Dec. 12: Re-entry draft. Another trade window opens and closes five days later.
Jan.9-13: MLS Combine, where talent can be evaluated.
Jan. 15: SuperDraft, which is the MLS draft.
MLS playoffs: Three teams moved onto the conference finals with impressive performances during the weekend.
Led by U.S. national team call-up Lee Nguyen, New England dispatched Columbus 3-1 to take the two-game series by an aggregate score of 7-3.
They will face New York, which swept aside top seed D.C. United by an aggregate of 3-2.
New York will host the first in the two-game series on Nov. 23.
In the West, Landon Donovan bounced back from a series of sub-par performances to score a hat trick in leading Los Angeles 5-0 win over Real Salt Lake. The teams played a scoreless tie in their first meeting in the two-game series.
The Galaxy’s opponent will be decided Monday night when Seattle hosts Dallas. The teams drew 1-1 in their first game.
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