MLS, Kraft Planning To Sell/Relocate Revolution after 2013?

Editors note: We recently received a very troubling anonymous email from someone who claims to be a senior staff member at Kraft Sports Group, the contents of which we have included below. TDIF has spent the last week working diligently to corroborate the claims made and continues to do so, but it must be said  that the following information, as yet, remains unconfirmed. We ask our readers to keep this in mind as they proceed with the understanding that we would not publish this unless we felt it was sufficiently plausible.

The following we are about to tell could be the biggest load of BS ever written or if true, would serve as the greatest indictment of the Kraft family's commitment to the New England Revolution and high level soccer in general: 

2013 could be the last season in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the New England Revolution, with Bob Kraft rumored to be considering a League proposal that would see him sell the club to an out-of-state buyer who would then relocate the franchise out of New England.

We have contacted multiple well-placed sources within the US Soccer community inquiring as to the veracity of these claims in an effort to confirm or refute them. To this point no one has denied them, confirmed them or expressed a willingness to discuss them, even on background and in confidence. We find this odd because in the past we've been fed stories that seem far fetched or unreasonable and have been able to find people who are very quick to tell us that it's not true. 

We can't with this, and no one seems willing to touch it with a 10 foot pole. They aren't interested in talking about it… at least not now.

Those are the reactions that we have gotten after telling them the following information that we received in that anonymous email referenced above and detailed below. Some of the information is known or previously assumed by many but the potential sale and relocation of the team is as new as it is frightening. Please note that we are not the only people within the Revs media circle (traditional or alternative) to have received this email, one that is reproduced in its entirety save for edits that were agreed upon to protect the possible identity of the source.

Does Shalrie like it? I don't...

We feel the same way...

Today the New England Revolution traded it's captain and franchise player, Shalrie Joseph, to Chivas USA for 23 year old midfielder Blair Gavin, a second round draft pick (whoop-de-fucking-doo) and allocation money.

Ok Ok let's get some things straight... Shalrie, this season... well he's been less than stellar.  If you haven't noticed I don't know what rock you've been living under.  While his skills in the midfield were lacking this season he made some good appearances as a defender and I would have liked to see that experiment continue. One must question the effect that trading your teams captain mid-season must have on the locker room.  Shalrie is certainly not without his faults over the past few years (arrest, drugs) but form everything we gather he was a big influence on the locker room and on younger players. This is a big shake up for the team both on and off the field.  Who becomes captain now?  Reis? Benny? Simms?

I'm guessing that Reis probably doesn't have much more time here himself, not a good option gong forward for the long term.  Benny is not option, it still looks and seems as if he doesn't want to be here, that he has some issues with not being called into the USMNT that has been effecting his attitude.  Simms is experienced but is new to this team, as a fan I'd like to see a player become captain that has been here for a while and is in it for the long haul.

Subtext: Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out...

Ok so let's get to the nuts and bolts of this trade... Who the fuck is Blair Gavin? No offense to Mr. Gavin but this team just traded it's most well know player, a DP and it's captain, for a relatively no-name player... a draft pick (I still think it's a crap shoot and not all that valuable... no you won't change my mind) and the ever mysterious allocation money.  How much allocation money have we gotten out of this?  Will we ever use it? We also traded a player the could fill in if needed in our depth depleted back line for another midfielder. We have 5 actual defenders...  13 midfielders... let's work on some defensive depth eh? You hearing me Burnsie and Heaps?

Was this a case of buyers remorse?  I was honestly a little surprised to hear Shalrie get signed to a DP contract, but I thought maybe this was a reward to Shalrie from the Revs FO  for his years of service in what may have been his last season before retiring. Hey now Krafty Bob gets to spend less!!

Shalrie will forever be one of the best and most loved players this team has ever had but he is certainly past his prime and on his way out. I still think we got a shitty deal... I'm not saying we should have gotten another DP level player... but we could have done better than this... I mean come on... no-name, second round draft pick, and allllllllllllocation moooooooney! There better be something big in the works or this team just traded a fan favorite for nothing.  If this is it... I will hold it against them and so should everyone else. I really hope there is more to this... and by more I mean not hedging our bets on Bocanegra or Edu... they must know it's a sure shot... or this was a waste and a big 'fuck you' to Shalrie and the fans.




p.s.  and now a fantastic chant that same fantastically talented person came up with is out of play...