[MLS 2013 COUNTDOWN] The New York Red Bulls' search for a new head coach is a never-ending saga. The latest twist, Portuguese Paulo Sousa did not turn down the job, as was previously reported, but he was unable to secure a work permit.

The New York Post reported that the Red Bulls removed the "interim" tag from Mike Petke and named him head coach only after Paulo Sousa, who had just given up his job with Videoton in Hungary, was could not secure a work permit.

The Post also reported that the Red Bulls are looking to hire Robin Fraser as an assistant.

CHICAGO. The Fire confirmed the club has loaned Uruguayan Alvaro Fernandez to Qatari team Al Rayyan on a six-month loan. The 27-year-old midfielder played on the 2010 Uruguayan World Cup team and hopes to return to the Celeste. “Flaco was interested in exploring options abroad in search of national team playing time,” said Fire President of Soccer Operations Javier Leon, “and this situation allows him that opportunity."

COLORADO. The Rapids landed 18-year-old Cameroonian Charles Eloundou in a lottery conducted on Friday morning at MLS league headquarters. The Rapids, who had a 73.5 percent chance of landing the rights to the player, beat out Real Salt Lake and D.C. United. The speedy winger arrives in MLS on a one-year loan from AS Fortuna de Mfou with an option for a permanent transfer at the end of the 2012 season.

D.C. UNITED. What is an Indonesian doing on D.C. United? D.C. United co-owner Erick Thohir is Indonesian and promised to bring in Indonesians -- if they were good enough. Midfielder Syamsir Alam was acquired on loan from Belgium second division club Vise, where he was one of five Indonesians on the roster. D.C. United also added one forward and released another. It acquired former Maryland All-American Casey Townsend from Chivas USA in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and released Chinese Long Tan.
 
HOUSTON. Defender Corey Ashe and forward Omar Cummings each underwent surgery Friday and will be out  an estimated 4-6 weeks as they recover. Ashe had surgery to address minor chronic irritation in his left knee. Cummings, who was acquired for Colorado in the offseason, had surgery to address a right knee injury that was aggravated in training with the Dynamo.

-- Among the Dynamo trialists who played in Saturday's 3-0 win over Houston Baptist University was Cameroonian Franck Songo'o, who was released earlier in the week by the Portland Timbers.

NEW ENGLAND. The Revs signed forward Matt Horth, who scored 18 goals in two seasons in the NASL with the Atlanta Silverbacks. Horth, who played collegiately at Division III Gordon College in Massachusetts, had a guest training stint in New England last fall.

SEATTLE. Will the third time be a charm for Lamar Neagle? The midfielder returned to his hometown Sounders for a third time after being dealt by the Montreal Impact for an international roster spot through the end of the 2014 season. He played with the Sounders in 2009, moved to Finland briefly after the 2010 season, returned to the Sounders in 2011 but was dealt to Montreal as part of the deal that brought Eddie Johnson to Seattle in 2012.
 
VANCOUVER. The Whitecaps released Argentine defender Martin Bonjour, who is hoping to land at Liverpool in Uruguay. Bonjour became expendable when the 'Caps signed American Brad Rusin, who spent the last two seasons in Denmark. Bonjour started last season until losing his starting job to Irishman Andy O’Brien.