SOCCER

Randy Bernstein, who played an instrumental role securing new owners for the Sockers and keeping the team alive last summer, has accepted a position with World Cup ’94 Marketing. The executive vice president-general manager will leave the Sockers March 15 to become vice president of the organizing committee’s marketing team.

Bernstein is in his seventh season with the Sockers. He started in 1985 as director of marketing. Before that, Bernstein worked three years for the NBA Clippers and their president at that time, Alan Rothenberg, now president of U.S. Soccer.

“This is an exciting opportunity for me,” Bernstein said. “But at the same time it was an incredibly difficult decision. We’ve made tremendous strides in developing soccer in San Diego everywhere from the youth level to the corporate level.”

Oscar Ancira, managing general partner, said he will take his time in naming a replacement.

“Our objectives, route and momentum have been established,” Ancira said. “Now we’ll try to see what happens to this office without a general manager.”