Union CEO: 'I don't do player trades'

Union CEO and operating partner Nick Sakiewicz has become a lightning rod for criticism of a team that missed the Major League Soccer playoffs for the fourth time in its five-year existence.

Sakiewicz has heard the criticism loud and clear, both at games and in cyberspace. He discounts the common perception that he has called the personnel shots for a Union team that was eliminated from the playoffs with two games remaining.

The Union finished 10-12-12 for 42 points - seven points out of the fifth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

"Of course the criticism bothers me," Sakiewicz said Monday in an interview.

Sakiewicz said the team suffered a letdown after a 3-1 loss to the visiting Seattle Sounders in extra time in the U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 16.

"It's not uncommon for a team, to have such high hopes of winning a trophy, to go into a funk," he said.

The Union went 0-2-2 in their next four games and were eliminated after a 3-2 loss to Columbus on Oct. 11 in a game in which they squandered a late 2-0 lead.

What Sakiewicz disputes is the notion that he is the one calling the personnel shots. He said that the team's technical director, Chris Albright, and interim manager, Jim Curtin, are the ones who make those choices. Before them, the decisions were up to former managers John Hackworth and Peter Nowak.

"I am the team cofounder. I run the day-to-day business operations," Sakiewicz said. "For people to be tweeting I am pulling all the strings and am the GM, I am not [Phillies general manager] Ruben Amaro. It is wrong."

With Jay Sugarman as majority owner, the Union are looking to add investors. Sakiewicz said there are a total of 13 investors in a group that began with him and Sugarman.

"Eighty-five percent of my time is spent searching for other people to invest in this club," said Sakiewicz, whose team's average attendance was 17,631 in 17 MLS games at PPL Park. "I don't do player trades."

Many fans will be skeptical about that comment. A former goalie, Sakiewicz has been accused of having an obsession with acquiring keepers. The team drafted Andre Blake with the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft and then had him play just one MLS game.

Zac MacMath has been the starter for the last three years, but it's likely he could be lost in this offseason's expansion draft.

The Union signed two-time Algerian World Cup goalie Rais Mbolhi in late July, and the move was looked on as overkill, especially with their need for more offensive help.

When Mbolhi made an errant pass that turned into a goal during second-half stoppage time of a 1-1 tie with the visiting Chicago Fire on Oct. 2, the criticism intensified.

"You can't buy a striker for $240,000," Sakiewicz said, alluding to Mbolhi's contract. "We know we need a striker, and there was a reason no MLS team signed one during the summer [transfer] window."

As in the past, Sakiewicz said, there will be changes this offseason.

Curtin still hasn't been named permanent manager. Sakiewicz inferred that Curtin will be back, but his role remains to be seen.

The rumors that former Fulham manager and Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen could become the team's manager won't go away.

"I won't say that won't happen, but it isn't happening now," Sakiewicz said.

The offseason began after Sunday's 2-1 loss at Columbus. "Getting to the Open Cup final and not making the playoffs isn't good enough," Sakiewicz said. "We have to get to work immediately."

The league announced changes for the 2015 season after Los Angeles-based Chivas USA ceased operations. On Thursday, MLS will announce a new Los Angeles club and ownership group that will begin play in 2017.

The additions of expansion teams Orlando and New York City FC in 2015 will bring the total to 20 MLS teams. There will be two 10-team divisions, with Sporting Kansas City and Houston moving from the Eastern to the Western Conference and the two expansion teams joining the East.

@sjnard