MLS: Former Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid Free to Negotiate with Sounders, No Tampering Involved
Looks like Sigi Schmid, a long-time South Bay resident and the MLS Coach of the Year, has gotten out of his contract with Columbus.
Here's the complete MLS statement on the matter issued this afternoon:
NEW YORK (December 12, 2008) - Major League Soccer announced today that the Columbus Crew and Seattle Sounders FC resolved a potential contractual issue regarding former Crew coach Sigi Schmid. Columbus acquired allocation money and cash from Seattle, thus releasing Schmid from contractual obligations and allowing him to proceed with his contract negotiations with Seattle. In connection with this matter, Major League Soccer found no evidence of tampering by Seattle Sounders FC.
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Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
Nick, consider the distinct possibility that Don Garber ordered Seattle to give an allocation and cash to Columbus just to shut Crew management up. Can you say Blogojevic, anyone?
Nick replies: I'm guessing that was to make the no-compete clause in Schmid's contract go away.