Rhinos make the jump

The Rochester Rhinos have jumped ship to the TOA. Provided that the USSF approves the application by the NASL, Rhino and Impact fans can continue to hate each other while playing in the same league (for another two years anyway).

Rochester leaving is a major blow to the USL. The USL-1 now only has four teams – including Puerto Rico, and leaving in one year Portland – set for 2010. It’s hard to imagine a scenario that sees the league operating in 2010, which is maybe why the Rhinos owners decided to jump ship prior to the proposed league being sanctioned.

I wonder how long it will be before the Islanders move to the Puerto Rican league, even if it is a step down (or would it be as compared to USL-1 right now)? God knows what Portland is thinking. You would think that they would have been more proactive. It could be that the Timbers would rather sit a year than get involved in the dispute.

Meanwhile no one knows what’s going to happen come next spring. not the USL, not the TOA and certainly not the fans of any of the teams involved in this mess.