There will be no team from the west coast participating in the 2018 Challenge Cup men’s soccer season.
Pat Fewer confirmed Tuesday morning the Steers Insurance Corner Brook United wouldn’t be returning to the fold for the 2018 season.
Fewer, who is the head coach and a member of the local Challenge Cup executive, said after discussions with players the executive decided it was best not to return this summer.
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The decision was based on the level of player commitment and not having the depth to fill a competitive roster on a consistent basis weekend after weekend.
It wasn’t a decision the executive made lightly, but Fewer said it was the best move to make given the financial risks associated with putting in a team only to find out later you have to fold, which happened before, and he also thought about trying not to cause any disruption or convenience for the returning teams.
“You just don’t have the amount of players it takes to push forward and to confidently push forward,” he said.
Last year, he said, the team had a number of weekends where the bench was pretty short with only one spare making a road trip so he doesn’t want to see happen again this year when he doesn’t see enough players willing to commit to what would be a summer of soccer almost every weekend and a fair amount of time on the bus.
“It’s a significant commitment to make and we had trouble last year where there were games when we had 10 or 11 bodies,” he said. “You’re pushing it … with injuries, cards and suspensions you thin yourself pretty quick.”
He believes it’s time to rebuild and refocus. He believes Challenge Cup soccer can return down the road as long as there are enough players coming up through the minor system who have a thirst for playing the game at the elite level.
It is bye for now. Down the road, he said, the circumstances may be right for another look at returning.
