Now that the sizzle is done, it鈥檚 time for the steak.
With Friday鈥檚 slickly produced introductory celebration unveiling of Pacific FC behind them, president Josh Simpson and executive Rob Friend turn their thoughts to building the product on the field for next spring鈥檚 inaugural season at an upgraded Westhills Stadium in the professional Canadian Premier League of soccer.
With their extensive connections in the game, Simpson and Friend indicated they will co-handle the general-manager duties.
Victoria鈥檚 Simpson had 43 caps for sa国际传媒 and played pro extensively with European clubs. Kelowna鈥檚 Friend had 32 caps for sa国际传媒 and played pro in Germany with Borussia Monchengladbach, Hertha Berlin, Eintracht Frankfurt and 1860 Munich.
A decision on a coach is expected in the fall.
鈥淐oaching is crucial and we have three or four candidates in mind and a lot of candidates have approached us,鈥� said Simpson.
鈥淲e want a coach who is young, dynamic and innovative and who will help build the game for sa国际传媒 as we look to 2026 [when sa国际传媒 co-hosts the World Cup].鈥�
A source has told the sa国际传媒 that a leading candidate could be 32-year-old Riley O鈥橬eill, who came out of Campbell River to star in the NCAA for the University of Kentucky Wildcats and for sa国际传媒 in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, before a pro career in Germany and Finland. O鈥橬eill has gained a reputation as a developer of young talent as a coach in the elite Island Wave youth soccer program.
Meanwhile, the Hamilton Spectator reports that players in the CPL will make between $40,000 and $60,000 per season.
CPL commissioner David Clanachan, who was in Victoria for Friday鈥檚 reveal and launch of the Pacific FC franchise, said there will be a salary cap for both players and coaches.
鈥淭hat salary cap has not been disclosed yet,鈥� said Clanachan, the former president and COO of Tim Hortons, who added the league is working through those details.
Clanachan, however, confirmed there will be strict Canadian player quotas.
鈥淕reater than 50 per cent of each team鈥檚 roster must consist of Canadian players, and more than 50 per cent of the players on the field at any time [a minimum of six] must be Canadians,鈥� he said.
The whole idea of the CPL, he said, is to build up the Canadian game.
Simpson said the goal is for the CPL to have an impact on the national team, not just for 2026 as co-host, but as a qualifier for Qatar 2022.
鈥淭he CPL will be a development path to the national team,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd we don鈥檛 want to just reach the World Cup. We want to compete once there.鈥�
