Martin Rogers spoke with U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley about the ongoing dispute between MLS and its players union over a newcollective bargaining agreement, which remains in a stalemate. A work stoppage, Rogers writes, is still a very real possibility.
“MLS does and will continue to play a very big role inregards to the national team,” Bradley said. “Without having any real sense of the discussions going on I think we can safely say that it is in everyone’s interests that someagreement will be reached sooner rather than later.
“We hope that is the case because a work stoppage – a significant work stoppage over a period of time – woulddefinitely affect some of those players. A short one can be chalked up to part of the growth of the league and the kind of thing that happens as leagues and sports get bigger.”
Therefusal of either side to make any meaningful public comment has left fans, players of many teams and Bradley in the dark. “Hopefully the leaders on both sides can work through theissues,” Bradley said. “Hopefully an agreement can be reached in a way that makes sense for everybody and that will be good for the growth of our game over the next period oftime.”