Deadline to Sell or Fold Splash Set for Today

The Splash is expected to know today whether the Continental Indoor Soccer League team will play this summer in Anaheim.

Tim Ryan, Splash general manager, said he met with the team’s prospective buyer Thursday.

“[The buyer] is reviewing all the various documents I was able to supply him about the financial and operational aspects about the team,” Ryan said. “He has promised to get back to us with his intent no later than [today]. If his decision is to move forward, we will meet with him to work out all the logistics with the transfer of the team.

“If his decision is to not move forward, then we will be forced to begin all the procedures associated with the termination of the franchise.”

Ryan, who declined to name the buyer, said Ogden Entertainment Management Corp., the owner of the Splash and operator of the Pond, is “leaning toward an outright sale of the franchise.”

A conference call is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, in which the league’s board of governors will determine which franchises will compete in 1996. Three teams--Mexico City, Las Vegas and Pittsburgh--will not compete. Two others besides the Splash, Arizona and San Jose, are searching for new or additional ownership.

The league will continue however, with at least 10 teams; expansion Indianapolis is expected to be approved on Tuesday.