Is is possible for MLS to accept a fee and the team to decline the offer? What would happen in this situation?

It would totally suck to loose Cooper!

As both an FCD season ticket holder and an avid follower of European football, I would LOVE to know which team this was!

I’m glad we’re not letting him go, but that is interesting indeed.

Skeeter, I think MLS for the most part will do what the team owner wants to do. But I’m not 100% positive about that.

CM, I’m trying to find out. I know a few of the teams that were in town scouting but don’t want to speculate until I get it locked down.

with that money we could buy Boliva!

Buzz, I thought that in the Twellman situation the league had agreed but the club vetoed, or vice versa. Am I mis-remembering that episode?
Is Coop a free agent after this year anyway? Unless the FO thinks they can salvage ugly contract issues from the past, they may have to get something for him instead of nothing. He’ll be headed overseas at some point within the next couple years, we can’t delude ourselves into thinking that a player of his size and talent will stay in MLS for his whole career.
If they do sell him, they better have a fantastic signing lined up, though.

Steve, I think the club can say no. But I’m not 100% of that. My info is that Cooper has two more options years beyond this one.

Surprised that KC Sr did such poor job with Jr’s contract with MLS. In Europe he would making real money and exposure to big clubs and now he’s stuck. It’s a shame he didn’t sign with ProActive BEFORE he came to Dallas. It’s obvious popps screwed up on this one, actually he was lied to but that happens.

i think Eddie Johnson was in the same situation that Dallas woudnt sell him to Benfica when EJ wanted to go. that was the beginning of the end and the reason why he went to KC.

He wanted to make a name here to enter the national team picture. Makes it even more glaring how he has been passed over. Kenny has probably grown a lot tougher on the negotiating front and his next contract will reflect that.

Could someone explain why MLS has any say in this whatsoever? Why exactly can’t a team negotiate with FCD directly?

Matt,
Because MLS is a single entity system. All of the players are technically under contract with the MLS and not the individual teams.

I can assure you pops did not screw up on this one. He was told one thing by Clarke when he visited Senior in Manchester. Upon Kenny Jr getiing his release from Manchester United. Upon moving back to Dallas Calrke and FC Dallas changed the contract. In the car business this is called switch and bait. Coopers Dad will not discuss this matter because of his relationship with Lamar and the Hunt family.

Buzz, are the 2 remaining years team or players options? Pretty obvious that the two would probably choose opposite approaches if they are in the position of power.

Rotation of coaches through Dallas, contract oddities, sputtering team, national team strangeness….would be silly not to seriously consider going abroad sooner rather than later.

No way the FO doesn’t veto this one. The price will need to be north of 5 mil to even consider it.

By the way, congrats on breaking this one.

other alex,

KC Jr is in a bad contract and Dad is/was his agent….who do you thing screwed up? I can see why Jr got with a real agent in Proactive now.

I think KC should sell for around 6 to 8 million when all is said and done. He is really a unique talent. Better than EJ who went to Fulham (for $4M I think?), and better than Jozy (though Jozy has potential and could be better than Cooper as he has a few more years to mature).

Glad to see MLS didn’t get taken to the cleaners. Hopefully they’ll jump on the right offer, though, and not do a ‘Twellman’ on him..

If we can get around 5 million, then let him go. He would succeed over there with his hustle and what not

Coops Dad is not an agent. He has been Cooper Jr manager advisor for years. He did the contract with Manchester United, which I believe was over $300,000 per year as an 18 year old. Being a youth coach here in Dallas, I am aware of this situation from day one. If the truth is known the contract was changed upon Jr arrival here in Dallas. Clarke knew what Cooper was making in Manchester. I believe this is the reason why Cooper Sr went with Proactive. Its as simple as that.

[...] to 3rd Degree, Major League Soccer has rejected a $1 Million dollar bid from an unknown European club for FC [...]

Contracts don’t get changed because they are in writing…you must mean a verbal agreement which is based on trust and it worth the paper it’s written on (not written on). Cooper Sr trusted FCD and it didn’t work out…..

What’s the big deal? I’m sure the league gets asked all the time about the availability of players and we only hear about a small %.

Why wouldn’t a Clube low ball an offer? Got to start the negotiations somewhere. I’m sure the League has been asked about Dario, Arturo and even Drew.

Buzz – this is really a non-story…you can do better!

you don’t leave 300k in Eu for 80k at fcd.

[...] to 3rd Degree, MLS has turned  down an offer in the $1 million range fro0m a unnamed European team for Kenny [...]

We must remeber that a verbal agreement is binding in the State of Texas. Especially if one has a witness.

Exactly, why would Cooper leave for 80k if he was making 300k with 6 months left on his contract.

Generally, verbal agreements are enforceable. However, an agreement which cannot be performed within one year, e.g. a multi-year contract, would need to be in writing to be enforceable under the Texas Statute of Frauds. So, I guess it depends on the length of Kenny’s contract.

statute of limitations is what you mean. Statute of limitatoins lasts for 3 years. This I believe is Cooper’s 3rd year. Please correct me if I am wrong.

“Being a youth coach here in Dallas, I am aware of this situation from day one”

BWA HAHAHAHAHAH

Oh…that’s a good one. Look, Cooper Sr. believed promises about Kenny getting a NEW contract once he performed well. When he scored 10 goals his first season, Cooper Sr. felt that was good enough to be rewarded. FCD disagreed….that’s the issue. There was no real agreement, and Cooper and FCD were on different pages regarding what qualified him for an upgraded deal. He left ManU because he wasn’t going to be getting a new deal there. It was either MLS or a 2nd tier Euro side. They went with MLS…it’s going to pay off in the end, if the Cooper family can just be patient.

Steve, the two remaining years are club options.

Alex – you are wrong. Two different things. The statute of frauds requires a multi-year contract to be in writing. A statute of limitations has to do with how long you can bring suit after a breach.

Toffee, thank you for your insight. Textgator, you have no clue what you are talking about. ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE. May be you can have the guts to introduce yourself to Coops Dad. I see him in the Verizon club after the games. Why dont you tell him how you feel about this. I am sure he will buy you a beer. We should be thankful we have teams from Europe flying over to watch Cooper, Shea, Moor etc. It says a whole lot about FC Dallas and the MLS. Scouts from Europe are finally recognizing we have great talent.

Correction: The MLS has CHEAP talent. In the world of international soccer, $1 million dollars for a player is nothing. I have a hard time believing anyone from Europe is flying to see Moor. And let’s be honest, Cooper is attractive because of that English passport. He had his stint in the EPL because of the passport and his old man. He’s a great player for the MLS and will have the most personal success if he stays put in Dallas.

Thanks for always being the voice of reason Texgator.

Other Alex, funny that you claim I have no clue when Toffee has shown that you understanding in regards to Verbal contracts is lacking…to say the least. With all your supposed “insider” information, you made a false claim regarding the viablity of a multi-year verbal agreement. IF your information actually comes from Cooper Sr himself, than it just goes to show that he was, indeed, incapable of representing Kenny properly in the negotiations. Most likey, however, you actually do know some information and you assumed the rest and passed it off as “fact”.

Incapable after he negotiated a 3 year deal with Ferguson for the money he did. Now I know you have been drinking !!!!

Well, as others mentioned Cooper’s relationship and connections with ManU certainly helped that whole situation just a bit. $300k for ManU is nothing….they spend more on bottled water in a year.

If you think Cooper’s relationship with former teamate Jimmy Ryan got Jr a contract, now I know you have lost it. Cooper was recommended by former Tornado player Neil Cohen and other ex players. Ferguson does not operate on sentiment, never as never will. Tell me how many other 18 year olds make 300k coming out of high school.

sucks for cooper

No it sucks for Textgator. This guy is to busy trying to make a name for himself on this web site. He probably gets $100 every time is name is mentioned. I am sure Cooper is going to be fine, if he stays here or goes overseas.

Alex. Kindda sounds like that’s what YOU are doing..People who know people should keep their mouths shut about personnal issues. IF you know them so well…..

That’s just it…Alex doesn’t know anyone. He’s singular qualification is being a youth soccer coach…something any idiot with a clipboard and a whistle can claim. Basically, he sits near Cooper Sr. at PHP, eavesdrops on conversations, picks up snippets, fills in the rest with his imagination and claims “knowledge”. It’s laughable.

Either way if Cooper performs well the rest of the season it should open up options for him and the MLS. All the bickering about who knows what is beside the point now. If an upgraded contract was discussed then surely they looked at what constituted a ‘good season’, as well as what an upgraded contract would be $. Doubtless it would have been less than what he could earn in europe if he is viewed as a legit euro prospect.

Textgator, Cooper’s old man usually sits by himself. Getting information on Jr from him is like getting blood out of a stone. Just ask the media, in regard to eavesdropping it obviously is you who is sniffing around for something. Like I said to you, why dont you get your facts straight and introduce yourself to the old man. I WANT TO SEE IF YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO TELL HIM WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SAYING ON THIS SITE.

The guts? To tell him what I already know? Yeah…that’s not a problem. LOL.