MISL Notes : Lowering of Salary Cap Is Under Discussion

Major Indoor Soccer League owners have concluded that the $1.275-million-per-team salary cap and other parts of the collective bargaining agreement need “substantial revision,” according to a statement released Wednesday by MISL Commissioner Bill Kentling.

Kentling’s statement, released after three days of All-Star league meetings in Tacoma, said that revisions should make the league more stable and lead toward expansion.

Kentling said he intends to meet next week with John Kerr, the director of the Players Assn., to discuss what he terms the “salary stabilization plan,” which has been in effect for 1 1/2 years and has another 1 1/2 years to go under the existing collective bargaining agreement.

Kentling has previously said he thinks the salary cap has saved the league. Earlier this week, Kentling said discussions on the salary cap were “certainly not about it going upward.”

The salary cap might be lowered to about $1 million next season and $900,000 in 1989-90, according to league sources.

At a news conference Wednesday, Kentling said he would not comment further on his scheduled meeting with Kerr or on the salary cap issue until after his meeting with Kerr.

Members of the MISL Board of Directors were also told not to comment on the matter.

“There’s a gag order on all the directors,” said Socker President Ron Cady. “To discuss it now in the newspapers would be unfair to John Kerr. It’s a comprehensive plan that has to be laid out in a concise manner.”

Cady said the majority of the board members think different aspects of the of the salary cap plan have to be examined.

The 1988 league meetings will be held in San Diego at the Kona Kai Hotel June 22-25. . . . The Bud Classic, featuring 60 top collegiate soccer players, will be held June 16 in Cleveland. The MISL draft will be June 17.

Kentling said Wednesday that he believes the financially troubled St. Louis Steamers will be able to finish the season.

“I believe in Joe Farrell’s (Steamer chairman of the board) plans for survival in St. Louis and in his ability to execute it,” Kentling said. “I believe St. Louis will finish the season if the people in St. Louis (businesses and corporations) respond the way I think they will.”

Before Wednesday’s All-Star Game, Kentling denied Western Division Coach Alan Hinton’s request to warm up St. Louis forward Poli Garcia as his 17th player in case Branko Segota, who sprained his left ankle Sunday.