“We have indicated we want him back and we are working to get that done,’’ team president Brian Bilello said yesterday. “Shalrie is an important player and we want him back, but until a contract is signed … he’s a great player on any team in this league but he is a special player for us. He has played his whole pro career here.’’
The Revolution lost defender Cory Gibbs (Chicago) to the re-entry draft last year.
WPS future in doubt
New investors have placed the Boston Breakers in position to compete for a fourth season in Women’s Professional Soccer. Now, though, there are questions about the league continuing.
The US Soccer Federation has withdrawn its sanction of WPS, setting a deadline of next week for the league to replace the magicJack franchise of Boca Raton, Fla.
First Division professional leagues are required to have at least eight teams and operate in three time zones, but the WPS received a waiver for a seven-team setup in 2009 and ’10 and a six-team setup last season. The league champions (Los Angeles Sol and Gold Pride) folded after both of the first two WPS seasons, partly because of the cost of travel from the West Coast.
MagicJack had a stormy season in its first year, recovering to finish in third place and reach the semifinals in the playoffs. Team owner/coach Dan Borislaw violated league rules by not displaying advertising boards, not having a website, and failing to videotape games.
Borislaw clashed with administrators soon after taking control of the Washington Freedom franchise and moving the team to South Florida without league permission. Borislaw fired coach Mike Lyons early in the season, then the team was guided by a “committee’’ headed by Christie Rampone, then coached by Borislaw after Rampone and several teammates left for Women’s World Cup preparations. Forward Abby Wambach took over as player-coach for the final part of the season.
On Oct. 27, the WPS announced the termination of the magicJack franchise, mistakenly having been assured a replacement had been lined up in Connecticut.
