Katakalidis Released; Sockers Trying to Deal Willrich and Gorsek

The Sockers announced Friday that they had released defender George Katakalidis, who has not been able to train while recovering from surgery he had in September on his broken toe.

In an unrelated personnel decision, the Sockers are continuing their attempts to trade captain Jean Willrich and goalkeeper Jim Gorsek because they say they need to reduce their payroll to conform to the Major Indoor Soccer League’s salary cap of $1.275 million per team. The league’s deadline to meet the cap is Nov. 15.

“It (releasing Katakalidis) wasn’t a salary-cap decision,” said Coach Ron Newman, who is still putting together his 19-player roster. “We’ve got players around who are pushing to make the team.”

Katakalidis had been signed to a one-year contract worth $35,000 before training camp started this fall.

Ron Cady, Socker president, confirmed that Katakalidis will continue to be paid until he is healthy enough to play. Initially, Katakalidis, who was informed by Newman Thursday night of the team’s decision, thought he would not be compensated while he was recovering.

As for the attempts to trade Willrich and Gorsek, Newman said the Sockers must get rid of at least one of their higher-paid players.

“It’s most logical to trade them off because they haven’t signed their contracts yet,” Newman said.

Helping to push the Sockers’ payroll over the salary cap is Branko Segota’s salary, which is about $600,000 over three years. Segota signed Sept. 8.

Cady said the Sockers did not know their official payroll total yet because not all of their players’ contracts have been approved by the league.

Both Willrich and Gorsek are in the option years of their contracts, which have no-cut, no-trade clauses. Cady confirmed that Willrich, 34, earns $96,000 a year, and Gorsek, 32, earns $67,000.

Scott Simpson, who represents both Willrich and Gorsek, said the Baltimore Blast is interested in acquiring Willrich. The Blast also had made an effort to trade for Willrich during the summer.

The stumbling block now is that the Blast is offering Willrich only a semi-guaranteed two-year deal, and Simpson is holding out for a guaranteed contract. Cady said the Dallas Sidekicks also are interested in Willrich.

Simpson said that the Tacoma Stars are interested in Gorsek but ARE not willing to offer the goalkeeper a guaranteed contract, and that the Wichita Wings are interested in both Gorsek and Willrich.

Simpson met Wednesday with Cady and Bob Bell, who has been retained by the Sockers as a consultant since Oct. 14, when he stepped down as co-managing general partner. Simpson said he met with only Cady on Thursday.

“We’ve had numerous discussions with teams within the last couple of days,” Cady said. “We’re trying to get under the salary cap.”

Simpson said he is “leery” of the Sockers’ figures.

“Why do they have to get rid of them (Willrich and Gorsek)?” Simpson asked. “They feel betrayed. I don’t blame them. No loyalty. It shows a total lack of sensitivity. To do this to Willrich and Gorsek is unconscionable.”

Cady, who will be attending a meeting of MISL owners in Worcester, Mass., this weekend, said he expects to know more about a possible trade by Monday.

Cady said this week’s signing of a young Yugoslavian forward, Keder, to a one-year contract, worth about $22,000, will not be a major factor in the Sockers’ attempt to reduce their payroll.