MLS leaves players blowing in wind

[TFCAlbertaGirl]

A few days old (Thurday) but an intersting read. A mention of Huckerby and Dickov near the end.

By Ridge Mahoney, Special to SI.com, Soccer America (http://www.socceramerica.com/)

The contract guarantee date has come and gone, yet not all MLS players still employed are assured of being paid in full for their 2008 services.
This is just one more topic for the MLS Players' Union to address as it bargains for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, to take effect for the 2010 season. To be sure, issues of minimum salary and some process of free agency within MLS will take priority, but MLS players deserve a bit more security, seeing as very few of them can negotiate guaranteed contracts. (That's another reason so many players head to Scandinavia and other smaller countries; not only is the pay better, but guaranteed contracts are much easier to secure.)
Most players are "semi-guaranteed," meaning they are guaranteed as of a specific date, in this case July 1. But there are exceptions.

More here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/soccer_america/07/03/mls.salaries/index.html?eref=sircrc

[Toronto_Bhoy]

Good find AlbertaGirl!



To be sure, issues of minimum salary and some process of free agency within MLS will take priority, but MLS players deserve a bit more security, seeing as very few of them can negotiate guaranteed contracts. (That's another reason so many players head to Scandinavia and other smaller countries; not only is the pay better, but guaranteed contracts are much easier to secure.)
Most players are "semi-guaranteed," meaning they are guaranteed as of a specific date, in this case July 1.


This is another reason the MLS is not near CCC quality...even if your at the bottom of that league and getting a regular game...why come here (average salary is around $350,000...AVERAGE)?

To play on plastic pitches and get paid lower wages...most of which isn't guaranteed?

For the MLS to grow, this and the salary cap needs to be addressed.