LD Update: NASL & CSL Finals Saturday; USL Pro coaching news; USL deal in limbo after Umbro sale

Among the headlines Wednesday was the announcement from Nike that it has reached an agreement to sell Umbro to Iconix Brand Group, Inc. for $225 million, a deal expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Up in the air from the deal, however, is the future of the sponsorship agreement with United Soccer Leagues, the former longtime property of Umbro, which was purchased by Nike in 2008. Nike subsequently sold USL in 2009 amidst much controversy that, in part, precipitated the acrimonious separation of USL First Division team owners into the NASL and what is now USL Pro. A sponsorship deal, featuring the Umbro brand, between Nike and USL was included among the terms of the sale of USL to NuRock Soccer Holdings, LLC. In regards to the future of the sponsorship arrangement and whether it would continue on with Nike, Umbro or neither, USL President Tim Holt told INWsoccernews USL management was "still in the process of working through the details of this with Umbro/Nike." As of now, Umbro remains among the branding on USLsoccer.com.

MORE USL News: Orlando City announced that head coach Adrian Heath has re-signed to a new three year deal, but the bigger news was that he reportedly turned down an assistant coach position with MLS Toronto FC which would have paid more than several head coaches around the top flight... In other major coaching news, Tom Curtis stepped down from his position as technical director and head coach of Antigua Barracuda and the matching positions with the A&B Football Association.

The USL Pro Pittsburgh Riverhounds have announced tryouts for early December and mid-January... The USL Pro LA Blues announced a November 16 friendly versus the Mexican U20 team... The PDL and W-League Victoria Highlanders named Mark deFrias as the new general manager... The MISL is in the midst of team-by-team previews with Baltimore Blast as the first team featured.

NASL & CSL CHAMPIONSHIPS

NASL News: The NASL concludes the Soccer Bowl championship series Saturday in St Petersburg with the defending champion Minnesota Stars taking a 2-0 lead into the second leg against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Game 1 Recap | G1 Video Highlights | LD Update Series Preview

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers inked the return of leading scorer Mark Anderson for potentially three years... The Carolina RailHawks announced trials for early December. 

CSL News: Toronto Croatia and Montreal Impact Academy, the top two teams from the regular season, survived the playoffs and will square off in the Championship Final Saturday at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke... SC Toronto Reserves and Brampton City Utd Reserves will face one another in the Second Division final in the first half of the championship doubleheader.  

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