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The future of the Atlanta Silverbacks remains in limbo as NASL owners did not reach a decision on the clubs fate Tuesday. It was expected earlier this week that the North American Soccer League Board of Governors and Presidents meeting would come to an agreement to keep supporting the club in Atlanta, selecting a new owner to keep the club in Atlanta, or move the franchise to ownership in a new city.
Sulaiman Folarin, a contributor to several reputable soccer publications, provided details from sources in regards to the meetings' proceeding.
Source reveals #NASL owners didn’t make a decision on #Silverbacks future. Some #NASL owners want an "#NASL Atlanta" team I’m told (1/2).
— Sulaiman Folarin (@sulaiman4real) September 30, 2015
Decision might have to wait till early November. ICYMI, on Tuesday 4 #NASL teams chose to keep #Silverbacks in #ATL as league-owned (2/2).
— Sulaiman Folarin (@sulaiman4real) September 30, 2015
Folarin had also previously tweeted that the cost of the league running the franchise costs $2.5 million in 2015, or a cost of $250 thousand for the other 10 NASL franchises. For 2016, the cost is estimated to remain at that level, if not more.
Finding new ownership to keep the club in Atlanta has proven challenging for NASL as the advent of Atlanta United FC in the MLS looms in 2017. This compounded by the fact that the rights to Silverbacks Park, were Atlanta's home games are played, are not controlled by the league but rather the club's former owner, Boris Jerkunica.