Dougherty Comes Back to Sockers
Following two days of reports of dissention among the Socker hierarchy, the club held a news conference Wednesday to announce the final three additions to its roster. And for the first time, Coach Ron Newman commented on his differences with management.
As for the additions, Paul Dougherty, the midfielder who arrived from England last week to cheers from Newman and to jeers from President Ron Cady, signed, albeit for $5,000 less than what he was offered by both Tacoma and Dallas.
Newman was pulling for Dougherty, but had to convince Cady of his worth. Dougherty played for the Sockers three years before moving on to Baltimore last season.
“I think we finally realized that we have got a need for an experienced player the caliber of Paul Dougherty,” Newman said when asked how he persuaded Cady.
The other additions were forward Keder and midfielder Jacques Ladouceur. Keder arrived in camp last week and Ladouceur has not practiced while holding out for a better deal.
There are two ramifications: No. 1, because the Sockers filled out their roster with field players, they head into the season opener (Friday night in Kansas City) with no backup goalie to Victor Nogueira. No. 2, because they have no backup keeper, the roster is not “set in stone,” Newman said. Someone will be cut when a goalie is found.
The three who signed Wednesday, however, are probably secure.
Ladouceur returned to the Sockers last year after a one-year layoff. It was his most productive season as he scored 12 goals and assisted on 11 others.
Keder played for the Sockers in 1987-88, when he had 28 goals and 10 assists in 36 games.
Dougherty was second on the team in goals (40) and assists (24) in 1987-88, but fell off the following year.
It was the disagreement between Cady and Newman on whether to sign Dougherty that brought into the open a larger rift.
“We had a meeting on Monday,” Newman said. “Everything came out well. We (Newman, Cady and owner Ron Fowler) aired our views and we talked.”
Newman said it was the first time since last season that the three have gotten together to discuss matters.
“I guess I’m a quiet guy and I let things build up,” Newman said. “You’ve got to have these things and listen to people’s problems, like I listen to the players’ problems. There were some things we had to work out and I needed some answers.”
Socker Notes
Coach Ron Newman said midfielder Brian Quinn will not make the trip to Kansas City and Dallas, where the team plays Saturday. He is out with a groin injury. . . . Two more goalies arrived for tryouts Wednesday: Hank Henry, who has Major Soccer League experience with Dallas (1988-89); and Chris Wilson, who played in the Western Soccer League during the summer.