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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]MLS NEXT has been very intentional about trying to penetrate markets that traditionally don’t prioritize soccer development (think Clint Dempsey’s background). The WV panhandle fit that profile. But from year one, their rosters were filled almost entirely with Virginia players  (second‑ and third‑tier kids formerly from Barca Academy, FCV St. James, etc.) They were never competitive, routinely taking very lopsided losses. The goal differential was staggering, and MLS academies (Union, United, NYRB) grew frustrated quickly.

In year two, WV partnered with Frederick, and soon entire teams were composed of Frederick players. Anyone who saw WV at events probably noticed their jerseys literally had “Frederick” printed under the WV badge across the chest. It was a good short‑term solution for WV to bolster a team or two, and a temporary opportunity for Frederick‑based players to play at a higher level.

But WV still couldn’t field competitive teams in the top tier -and even fielding a second‑tier team was a challenge. A year later, WV connected with Sterling to allow an entire team to play in the second tier, eventually expanding to two teams.

This year, the WV HG division teams lost more, conceded more goals, and scored less goals than they ever had previously. Some of the second tier AD teams competed, but only because the rosters are formed almost entirely of players from markets over an hour away.

Bottom line, this was never the league’s intent. The model was supposed to grow the game in underserved markets, not create a pipeline for out‑of‑state second‑tier players (or lower) to wear a WV badge. [/quote]

Well outlined history, fits the recent decision.  Thanks[/quote]

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