January 28, 2010
STILL TALKING
MLS, Players Union extend deadline to Feb. 12

There will not be a lockout in MLS, at least for another two weeks.

Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Union Thursday announced that the two organizations have agreed to continue to negotiate through Feb. 12, as they work towards reaching a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“While we still have areas of disagreement, the talks have been constructive and both parties believe it makes sense to continue to work hard to reach agreement,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “This extension provides both MLS and the players the opportunity to continue our discussions while clubs are in training camps preparing for the 2010 MLS season.”

Both parties realized that an agreement could not be reached by Sunday's deadline (Jan. 31), so they decided to continue talking, Players Union executive director Bob Foose said.

“Both the Players Union and MLS have concluded that a new agreement will not be reached by February 1, but we have agreed to continue to talk and we will be meeting over the next two weeks to determine if a new agreement can be reached,” Foose said in a statement. “In the meantime, MLS Players are reporting to training camp, and preparations for the 2010 season will continue.”

The current CBA, the first in MLS history, is a five-year agreement that had been scheduled to expire Sunday.